Key stats
- Since the start of November, only Erling Haaland (eight goals, three assists) and Bruno Fernandes (three goals, six assists) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Rayan Cherki (one goal, seven assists).
- Manchester City have scored in 16 of their 18 games, no team has done so more often in the Premier League this season.
- Rayan Cherki has assisted seven goals in the Premier League this season (one in this game), no player has more.
Highlights
Analysis
Manchester City's match-winner Rayan Cherki registered a goal and assist, earning an 8.6 Flashscore rating.
An entertaining game saw the momentum pendulum swing throughout before City began to dominate proceedings late on.
Match report
Following the sad news of John Robertson’s passing, Forest paid tribute to their greatest player with an emotional minute of applause before kick-off at the City Ground.
The hosts – who were wearing black armbands in memory of their two-time European Cup winner – threatened to take an early lead when Callum Hudson-Odoi whipped in a dangerous cross towards Morgan Gibbs-White, who failed to make contact with a delivery that deserved to be guided home.
That opening proved to be one of the rare chances of a cagey first period, where Forest’s defensive shape and discipline negated the attacking threat of a City side that had scored in the first half of each of their previous seven competitive outings.
Neither side was able to muster a shot on target before the break, but that soon changed when Tijjani Reijnders broke the deadlock within three minutes of the restart.
The former AC Milan midfielder made an intelligent run in behind to latch onto Cherki’s disguised pass before keeping his cool to slot the ball past John Victor.
Buoyed by his assist, Cherki went close to putting his own name on the scoresheet just moments later, but he was unable to find a way past Victor at the near post.
After being pushed onto the ropes by City’s fast start to the second period, Dyche’s charges showed great character to fight back with a patiently worked equaliser.
Hudson-Odoi and Gibbs-White played their part in working the ball to Igor Jesus, who pulled it back for Omari Hutchinson to slide home a first-time finish to the delight of the home support.
Hutchinson’s first goal for the Tricky Trees looked set to frustrate Guardiola’s charges until Cherki produced a decisive moment of quality in the closing stages.
A deep corner was headed back for the 22-year-old to drill a low shot through Gibbs-White’s legs and just past the unsighted Victor.
Cherki’s effort sealed an eighth consecutive win in all competitions, moving City into top spot for the time being and leaving Forest just one place clear of the bottom three.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Post-match comments
Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki to TNT Sports:
"When the games come we need just one thing: to win. We take the points because the championship is so long and so hard, so today is a big win.
"The next game is very important for us and we are ready."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to TNT Sports:
"All the kilos I won over Christmas time in weight, today I lost it. I am fit again. What a team San Dyche has made again. That's a really, really, really big three points.
"Forest are an incredible team, the way that they play they do it unbelievably. A fantastic team and tough place to come, and at winter time.
"We talked a lot about this in the last few days with the players. Winter time, at Nottingham Forest, you have to be there, there, there. Today if we are not ready then we do not win that game. The mentality was unbelievable, so really pleased again for the guys."