Rayan Cherki finally ended his Premier League goal drought in dramatic fashion, scoring late to secure Manchester City a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Nottingham Forest.
The French playmaker, who had not scored in the league since the opening weekend, struck in the 83rd minute to extend City’s winning run to six matches and keep their title charge firmly on track.
The result briefly lifted Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the table before Arsenal reclaimed pole position with a narrow win over Brighton.
City appeared destined for a draw after Forest showed resilience to cancel out Tijjani Reijnders’ second-half opener. Cherki had created the first goal with a neat through ball, but Omari Hutchinson restored parity soon after, finishing off a swift counter-attack.
Despite Forest matching City for long spells, the champions found a way to prevail late on, a warning sign for their rivals in the title race.
The hosts, however, will feel unlucky not to take something from the game after a disciplined and competitive display.
Before kick-off, Forest paid tribute to club legend John Robertson, who passed away on Christmas Day.
The former Scotland international played a key role in the club’s historic European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980 and was once famously described by Brian Clough as “the Picasso of our game.
The opening half was scrappy and tightly contested, with neither side managing a shot on target. Forest actually came closest early on when Callum Hudson-Odoi’s inviting cross flashed across goal, but Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White both failed to apply the finish.
City raised their tempo after the break and were rewarded almost immediately. Cherki slipped Reijnders through, and the midfielder kept his composure to fire a low shot beyond goalkeeper John Victor. Moments later, John produced a superb save to push Cherki’s effort onto the post and keep Forest in the contest.
The equaliser arrived in the 54th minute when Gibbs-White launched a counter-attack, leading to Jesus cutting the ball back for Hutchinson to calmly finish from inside the box.
Forest grew in confidence and nearly took the lead themselves. Neco Williams forced a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Nicola Savona blazed the rebound over from close range. At the other end, John again denied City, stretching out a leg to thwart Phil Foden after some clever footwork.
City’s pressure eventually told. From a corner in the closing stages, the ball dropped kindly to Cherki on the edge of the area, and he drilled a low shot into the net to seal all three points and cap a decisive performance when it mattered most.
