Manchester City faced a tense battle against Nottingham Forest, holding onto their perfect Premier League record despite a red card for Rodri.
City appeared to be cruising at halftime with early goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, but the game took a dramatic turn just 27 seconds into the second half.
Rodri was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after an altercation with Morgan Gibbs-White, where he placed his hands around Gibbs-White’s neck. The decision was upheld by VAR, and City had to continue with 10 men.
Up until that moment, Forest had struggled to keep pace, with City slicing through their defense down the right side to score both goals within the first 15 minutes. Kyle Walker’s setup allowed Foden to slot home City’s opener with a precise first-time finish. Matheus Nunes delivered a cross from the same flank, and Haaland headed in an unmarked goal.
The second half painted a different picture, as City had to dig deep to protect their lead. They largely succeeded in keeping Forest at bay, with clear scoring chances for the visitors few and far between. Orel Mangala sent one shot over the bar, Taiwo Awoniyi missed from close range, and Ederson denied Anthony Elanga late in the match.
Tempers flared in the closing minutes, with both City manager Pep Guardiola and the home fans expressing frustration over some of the referee’s decisions. Nevertheless, City managed to hang on, securing their sixth consecutive win.
With the other top-four teams scheduled to play on Sunday, the defending champions have now opened up a five-point lead at the summit of the Premier League table.
