Manchester City Ends Winless Run with 3-0 Victory Over Forest

Manchester City ended a seven-game winless streak with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne scored in the first half and Jeremy Doku added a second-half strike securing a much-needed win for Pep Guardiola’s side. After a series of poor results including six defeats and a disappointing draw with Feyenoord, City showed signs of recovery in this match. Though City’s victory was not flawless with some miscontrols and stray passes, they capitalized on key moments.

Chris Wood missed a golden opportunity to equalize for Forest after Silva’s early tap-in but De Bruyne swiftly responded with a clinical finish. Doku sealed the win with an impressive strike from outside the box, giving City their joint-biggest margin of victory this season. Guardiola made several key decisions that paid off. He restored De Bruyne to the starting lineup and placed Jack Grealish in a central position alongside him which allowed Silva and Doku more space on the wings.

Guardiola’s faith in goalkeeper Stefan Ortega also proved crucial. Ortega, starting his second consecutive Premier League match for the first time since May 2023 made important saves including a one-handed stop to deny Morgan Gibbs-White.  The victory gave Guardiola a sense of relief after City’s recent struggles. The win ended a long dry spell but Guardiola remains cautious, knowing much work lies ahead. Although City controlled the game after their third goal, Guardiola showed visible frustration at missed opportunities.

He emphasized the importance of continuing their recovery, despite the narrow nature of the win. Guardiola now aims to build momentum as Manchester City looks to move forward and repair the damage from their recent slump. This win was a crucial step in restoring confidence but Guardiola knows the team needs further improvements to sustain this form.