3-1 Victory
Nottingham Forest vs Man City · FT
Catherine Ivill – AMA
Liam Delap Brace
2 goals to sink the reigning champions
21% Possession
Forest scored 3 goals from just 6 shots on target
3-Match Skid
Man City drop vital points in title pursuit
Nottingham Forest delivered a sensational 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground in Matchweek 10 of the 2026–27 Premier League season. Driven by an extraordinary brace from Liam Delap and an aggressive counter-attacking game plan, Oliver Glasner’s men handed Pep Guardiola’s side their third consecutive league defeat.
Match Summary & Key Goals
Forest set the tone early with intense pressing and ruthless execution.
- 6′ — Jair Cunha (1-0): Jair Cunha connected with a corner delivery to head past Gianluigi Donnarumma, igniting the home crowd within the opening six minutes.
- 18′ — Liam Delap (2-0): Liam Delap capitalized on a quick transition move, beating his marker and unleashing a powerful strike just under the crossbar to double Forest’s lead.
- 52′ — Rayan Cherki (2-1): Manchester City pulled one back early in the second half when Rayan Cherki picked up a loose ball near the edge of the penalty box and smashed a first-time rocket into the top corner.
- 73′ — Liam Delap (3-1): As City pressed for an equalizer, Morgan Gibbs-White produced a brilliant assist to set up Delap’s second goal, restoring Forest’s two-goal cushion and sealing the match.
Match Statistics
Despite City dominating 79% of ball possession, Forest were devastatingly clinical on the counter-attack and outperformed the visitors in shot accuracy and tackles won.
| Statistic | Nottingham Forest | Manchester City |
| Final Score | 3 | 1 |
| Possession | 21% | 79% |
| Total Shots | 11 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 3 |
| Passes (Accurate) | 197 (136) | 725 (657) |
| Passing Accuracy | 69% | 90% |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 7 |
| Fouls Committed | 13 | 7 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 0 |
Tactical Breakdown
Forest’s High-Efficiency Counter-Attack
Nottingham Forest allowed Manchester City to hold the ball while maintaining a compact defensive shape inside their own half. Murillo and Nikola Milenković anchored a disciplined backline, while wing-backs Neco Williams and Daniel Muñoz contained City’s wide threats. Morgan Gibbs-White and Xaver Schlager provided the dynamic link in midfield, consistently launching Liam Delap into space behind City’s high defensive line.
Manchester City’s Struggles
With Rúben Dias and Marc Guéhi starting in central defense, City was vulnerable to rapid transitions. Erling Haaland was limited to just two attempts on goal as Matz Sels and the Forest defense neutralized City’s central buildup. Halftime tactical changes by Guardiola—introducing Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes—brought brief momentum and Cherki’s goal, but Forest’s third goal extinguished City’s comeback attempt.
Lineups & Substitutions
🌳 Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1)
- Goalkeeper: Matz Sels
- Defenders: Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenković, Murillo
- Midfielders/Wing-Backs: Daniel Muñoz (Luca Netz 64′), Ryan Yates (Ibrahim Sangaré 78′), Xaver Schlager, Neco Williams
- Attacking Midfielders: James McAtee (Dan Ndoye 64′), Morgan Gibbs-White
- Forward: Liam Delap (Igor Jesus 86′)
🩵 Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Defenders: Abdukodir Khusanov, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi (Matheus Nunes 45′), Joško Gvardiol (Nico O’Reilly 45′)
- Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández (Phil Foden 77′)
- Attacking Midfielders / Wingers: Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki, Jérémy Doku
- Forward: Erling Haaland
Post-Match Impact
The result lifts Nottingham Forest significantly away from the lower end of the Premier League table. For Manchester City, the loss marks three consecutive Premier League defeats, leaving them six points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Watch the Nottingham Forest 3-1 Man City highlights
to catch Liam Delap’s sensational brace and the key match moments.
