Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi was unable to save the day for Nottingham Forest on Saturday as Manchester City beat them 2-0 to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League despite having Rodri sent off.
Phil Foden and Erling Haaland scored within the opening 15 minutes to extend City’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games.
Pep Guardiola’s team has already won 20 straight home games in all competitions, but Rodri’s moment of craziness made them work much harder.
The Spaniard clutched Morgan Gibbs-White around the neck less than 60 seconds into the second half and might face an expensive punishment since a three-game suspension would prevent him from playing against Arsenal in the Premier League next month.
Early on, City was at its ruthless best, apparently putting the game to bed.
To begin the scoring, Foden blasted home a lovely volley from Kyle Walker’s cushioned cross.
Speaking after losing Barnardo Silva to injury in a 3-1 win over Red Bull Belgrade, Guardiola said that his squad was “in trouble” due to a number of injuries.
Mateo Kovacic and John Stones are still out, and Jack Grealish was only fit enough to sit on the bench.
However, the absences allowed Matheus Nunes to make his first league start since signing from the Wolves, and he made an impression by setting up the second goal.
The Portuguese exchanged passes with Foden before chipping the ball across for Haaland to score.
When Julian Alvarez’s effort from point-blank range was blocked behind, he could have extended City’s lead.
However, until Rodri lost his calm, the European champs did not look to be in any danger.
Forest’s greatest chance to come back into the game came when Awoniyi lifted over under pressure from Ederson.
Awoniyi and the Brazilian custodian were then lucky not to see red as they collided in a scuffle.
City, on the other hand, recovered order as Guardiola shifted to a back five to withstand the visitors’ aerial bombardment.
Late in the game, Haaland could have scored his second goal when he spooned over Nathan Ake’s cross with the goal gaping.
In other news, Luton Town earned their first Premier League point but squandered a golden opportunity in a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves.
When Jean-Ricner Bellegarde saw red in 39 minutes, the visitors at Kenilworth Road were reduced to 10 men.
Despite Pedro Neto firing the Wolves in front early in the second half, Carlton Morris’ penalty earned a point for Luton.
