City extend PL2 winning run after Forest triumph

City were quick off the mark, needing just three minutes to take the lead through Mamad Sangare on his return to the starting line-up.

A moment of magic from Ryan McAidoo just before the break saw the winger double our lead after he thumped his effort into the roof of the net from a tight angle, a deserved goal for the 17-year-old who was City’s most energetic player.

Not satisfied with a two-goal lead, City smothered Forest from the start of the second half and needed less than a minute to find a third.

Sverre Nypan guided home McAidoo’s cross to put Ben Wilkinson’s side firmly in control.

The triumph is a fourth successive win in the league for City and means we remain unbeaten at home as we moved one step closer to confirming our place in the play-offs. 

WHAT HAPPENED

Ben Wilkinson’s side were energetic from kick-off, looking to punish Forest quickly.

And after an initial chance for McAidoo, he teed up Sangare who slotted home a composed left-footed finish into the bottom left corner inside the opening five minutes.

Similar to our 6-0 win over Wolves a week prior, after City’s early strike, we couldn’t find another breakthrough until the brink of half-time.

McAidoo picked up possession in the middle third and charged down the right, dancing his way around red shirts.

He made it all the way to the by-line before deciding to go try his luck, firing his effort past former Blue George Murray-Jones in goal to double City’s lead on 43 minutes.

City needed just 22 seconds to find a third at the start of the second half. 

McAidoo showcased his speed once again, bursting away from his man before firing in a perfectly placed cross into the path of Nypan who fired home for his third in two games.

For the remainder of the match, City dictated play, with Forest limited to just two chances which Jack Wint saved with ease.

The triumph means City remain undefeated in all our encounters with Forest as we climb to seventh in the PL2 table. 

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Wint, Nfonkeu, H. Parker (Dada-Mascoll 69’), Noble (C), McFarlane, Braithwaite, McAidoo, F. Samba (Fapetu 80’), Sangare (Henderson-Hall 69’), Nypan, R. Heskey (Muir 49’)

SUBS | Hudson.  

FOREST XI | Murray-Jones, Moreira, Sanneh, Orr, Hanks, Nwosu, Sinclair, McClure, Sillah, Whitehall (Smith 77’), Thompson.

SUBS | Grainger, Broomes, Modupe, Anisjko.

AS A RESULT

City climb the table to seventh with 28 points, two points off the top five, with five League Phase games left to play.

UP NEXT

Our next Premier League 2 game will see City travel to Aston Villa.

Kick-off in the West Midlands is set for 19:00 (UK) on Friday 6 March.

The game will be available to watch live on mancity.com and the Official Man City App for fans with a CITY+ subscription.