Goals from Jair Cunha and Liam Delap saw the home side race to a two-goal lead after just 18 minutes, but a wonderful strike from Rayan Cherki halved the arrears early in the second half.
With City in the ascendency and seemingly capable of a memorable comeback, Delap scored another to restore Forest’s two-goal advantage, this time finishing off a swift counter-attacking move.
The result means City have lost three consecutive Premier League matches and head into the international break six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
The game in brief
Nottingham Forest started the game superbly and were deservedly 1-0 up after just six minutes. Joško Gvardiol was dispossessed by centre-back Jair Cunha, who burst forward and rolled the ball into the bottom corner past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
With the home fans visibly lifted, another Forest goal soon followed, this time it was former City striker Liam Delap was on the scoresheet after a fine individual run and finish that left Donnarumma with no chance.
City, who were making individual errors and struggling to establish our usual fluency, were 2-0 down after 18 minutes and left with a mountain to climb.
Enzo Fernández headed over from close range after Marc Guéhi’s fine ball into the box, as City went looking to reduce the deficit.
The Argentine will have been disappointed to miss, given he put away a much more difficult header in our 3-2 Champions League win in Leipzig on Wednesday.
And five minutes before half-time, Erling Haaland rounded the ‘keeper but saw his effort cleared off the line by Cunha.
Those were promising signs from City, who had gradually stabilised, found some fluidity and started creating chances.
The second half saw Enzo Maresca make a double change, with Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reailly coming on at the break.
And the manager’s reshuffle had an almost immediate impact when Rayan Cherki’s magnificent half-volley got City back into the game.
City suddenly looked revitalised and looked likely to equalise - and came agonisingly close to doing so when Haaland curled one just wide of the top corner.
But as we pressed forward looking for a second, gaps began to appear in behind, and Delap took full advantage, finishing off a swift counter-attack to make it 3-1 with a powerful strike that went in off the post and condemned City to defeat on the banks of the River Trent.
TEAMS
FOREST: Sels, Murillo, Milenkovic, Jair Cunha, Williams, Schlager, McAtee (Ndoye 65’), Munoz (Netz 65’), Yates (C) (Sangare 79’), Gibbs-White, Delap (Igor Jesus 87’)
UNUSED SUBS: John Victor, Diomande, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Kalimuendo
CITY: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias (C), Guéhi (Nunes 46’), Gvardiol (O’Reilly 46’), Anderson, Fernández (Foden 78’), Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
UNUSED SUBS: Rulli, Kovačić, Reis, Bouaddi, Allan Elias, Lewis
Enzo Maresca reaction
“Let’s be clear, in the first half we didn’t match the intensity and lost two goals. And when we reacted, it was too late.
“In this kind of game, first of all you need to match the intensity and win duels, otherwise it is complicated.
“We lost a lot of second balls and were 2-0 down. In football, that is always complicated.
“We won the first seven [Premier League games of the season], which had never happened. Now we lost three. It’s football.”
What it means
With Arsenal beating Hull City 1-0 at the Emirates earlier in the day, City are now six points adrift of the leaders.
Third-placed Brighton could leapfrog City if they beat Brentford at the AMEX Stadium on Sunday.
What next?
It’s time for the second international break of the season.
We return to action in the Premier League on Saturday 21 November as we host Fulham at the Etihad Stadium. That one kicks off at 12:30 (UK).
And three days later, Kevin De Bruyne’s Napoli are the visitors as our UEFA Champions League campaign continues. That one gets under way at 20:00 (UK).
BE AT CITY V NAPOLI!
City will look to move a step closer to UEFA Champions League knockout qualification as we face Napoli – and you can be here to cheer on the Blues!
Enzo Maresca’s men take on Massimiliano Allegri’s Serie A side on Tuesday 24 November with a 20:00 (UK) kick-off at the Etihad.
It’s our fifth game in the League Phase following four wins and one defeat and those results have left us seventh in the League Phase with the top eight automatically qualifying for the Round of 16.
Make sure you’re here to support Maresca’s men with tickets now on sale to any Cityzens with an account active before 27 August. It’s up to four tickets per Cityzen - three additional for members on the UEFA Cup Scheme.
You can also make a special night of it with a hospitality experience under the Etihad lights - packages start from £110 per person, with places in City Hall, Crossbar and Zadie’s all available in the new Pep Guardiola Stand as well as 12-seater Platinum Boxes and places in the Asahi Superdry Tunnel Club Premier.
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Nottingham Forest 3-1 City: 2-minute highlights
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