City are now 20 points off of first-place Liverpool.
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Manchester City’s frustrating season hit another low as they fell 1-0 to Nottingham Forest, with a late defensive lapse proving costly.
Despite a controlled but uninspiring display, City’s inability to capitalize on possession—and a costly mistake by Ederson—handed Forest a crucial win.
Pep Guardiola’s side played with patience but lacked creativity and sharpness in front of goal, allowing Forest to capitalize on a late opportunity.
City’s first half was forgettable, with neither team producing much quality.
Even referee Chris Kavanagh seemed to acknowledge the dull affair, cutting the added time short.
Forest, known for their defensive solidity, frustrated the reigning champions, while City’s build-up play lacked urgency and penetration.
Despite dominating possession, City failed to turn their control into real chances.
Kevin De Bruyne, a key player in City’s 3-0 win over Forest earlier this season, was benched until the 69th minute, and Jack Grealish remained unused despite his recent headlines.
Guardiola’s substitutions did little to change the tempo, and as the game drifted toward a goalless draw, City’s lack of cutting edge was exposed.
With just eight minutes remaining, a defensive lapse undid all of City’s patient work.
Morgan Gibbs-White delivered a brilliant pass to Callum Hudson-Odoi, while City’s Jeremy Doku was caught out of position.
Josko Gvardiol failed to stop Hudson-Odoi, and Ederson—who had earlier made a fine save—let the winger’s shot slip past him at the near post.
This wasn’t a high-scoring thriller, but for City, it was another reminder of a season filled with frustrating errors.
Their defensive issues have already cost them against Spurs, Liverpool, Brighton, and Bournemouth, and now Forest has joined the list.
While City still have a chance to recover, their top-four hopes are under real threat.
Instead of looking up at Arsenal, they are now nervously glancing over their shoulders.
Pep Guardiola’s side, already struggling with inconsistency, now faces mounting pressure in the top-four race. With long gaps between fixtures, the usual excuses no longer apply.
The fixture list may be kinder in the coming weeks, but unless they eliminate these costly mistakes, their struggles will only continue.