PLAYER RATINGS: Kevin De Bruyne stepped up for Man City when it mattered and Josko Gvardiol was key at both ends – but which Forest player scored just 4.5 after horror show?

Manchester City ensured they remained slim favourites to retain their Premier League crown after beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The returning Erling Haaland settled City’s second-half nerves shortly after being brought on as a substitute and moved the champions just one point behind Arsenal.

It was far from plain sailing for Pep Guardiola‘s slickers before the break with Chris Wood spurning several golden openings and Callum Hudson-Odoi firing off target.

City, though, took the lead a shade after the half-hour mark after Josko Gvardiol powered a header home from a corner – and Haaland went on to seal the victory.

Here, Mail Sport‘s TOM COLLOMOSSE has rated the players…

Erling Haaland was brought on as a substitute and wrapped up the victory with a deft finish

MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1)

EDERSON 5.5

Was lucky his uncertainty at one Gibbs-White corner did not lead to a goal, as Murillo hit the bar. Appeared to be badly hurt in an earlier collision with Boly and did not reappear for the second half.

Ederson was shaky at times and did not reappear for the second half after suffering a knock

KYLE WALKER 6.5

No protection from Doku meant he often had both Aina and Hudson-Odoi to contend with. The England defender did not look as secure as usual but his experience got him through – despite a couple of nervy moments.

MANUEL AKANJI 6

Wood is a tricky opponent for any centre-back and Akanji had some tricky times against Forest’s No11. Luckily for the City defender, Wood’s radar was off.

NATHAN AKE 7

Showed his terrific recovery pace to catch up with Anthony Elanga and deny him a shooting opportunity, even though the offside flag was up. Looked the more comfortable of City’s central defensive pairing.

JOSKO GVARDIOL 7

Not always precise on the ball but decisive at both ends of the pitch, scoring the first goal and then clearing off the line to prevent Wood levelling for Forest at the start of the second period.

Josko Gvardiol was decisive at both ends of the pitch and scored City’s first goal of the game

RODRI 6.5

Sometimes troubled by Gibbs-White’s imagination and like the majority of his team-mates, he can play much better. The worry for Arsenal is that City were still able to win comfortably despite being off form.

JEREMY DOKU 5

His failure to track Aina’s runs often left Walker with two men to mark and his poor challenge on the Nigerian gave Forest a dangerous free-kick. Throw in his lack of bite in attack and it was no surprise that the Belgian did not re-emerge for the second half.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE 7

On the periphery for much of the game – but then his corner set up Gvardiol’s opener and he released Haaland for the second. A high-class performer who makes it count when it matters – just like his team.

Kevin De Bruyne was initially on the periphery before setting up both of City’s goals

BERNARDO SILVA 6

Dropped deep to try to get City moving but was not at his usual fluent best and his close control was strangely sloppy. Against a better side his off-day might have proved costly for his team.

JACK GREALISH 5.5

For goodness sake, stay on your feet! Kept the ball well when City had it but his insistence on throwing himself to the ground at the slightest contact is tiresome to watch. Replaced after an hour by Erling Haaland.

Jack Grealish’s insistence on throwing himself to the ground is tiresome to watch

JULIAN ALVAREZ 6

Starting as City’s furthest forward, tried to link with his attacking midfielders but very little worked for him. Ran on to a through-ball from De Bruyne only to fire high and wide with Haaland lurking in the middle.

Subs: Ortega (for Ederson 46, 6.5), Carson, Stones, Kovacic (for Doku 46, 6.5), Haaland (for Grealish 62, 7), Gomez, Nunes (for De Bruyne 89), Bobb (for Alvarez 89), Lewis

Scorers: Gvardiol 32, Haaland 71

Manager: Pep Guardiola 6.5

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-4-3)

MATZ SELS 6

The Forest keeper made a very good save from Kevin De Bruyne early on and was rarely tested in the first half – but he was caught out at his near post when Josko Gvardiol was allowed to run free and head home Kevin De Bruyne’s corner.

WILLY BOLY 8

Back in the team for the first time since March 16, Boly was excellent on the right of a back three. His anticipation was excellent, twice stepping in to rob Bernardo Silva in the opening minutes and cruising through the first half thereafter. Forest must keep him fit now.

Willy Boly was excellent on the right of a back three and his anticipation caught the eye

MURILLO 6

Lapse in focus allowed Gvardiol to sneak in front of him to open the scoring and then Erling Haaland eased past him for the second. Was close to an equaliser when his acrobatic effort hit the bar in the closing moments of the first half.

MOUSSA NIAKHATE 6.5

Gave away a dangerous free-kick with a poorly-timed challenge on Jeremy Doku in the first half but generally combined well with Aina to keep City at bay.

NECO WILLIAMS 7

Immediately lively going forward, forcing Ederson into a smart save, and largely kept Grealish quiet going the other way. Injured tackling Grealish just before the opening goal, his first-half exit was a huge blow to Forest.

MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE 7

Playing in a deeper role, the Forest captain tried to dictate play and struggled against Rodri early on. But he soon grew into the game and was at the heart of his side’s best moves, though he should have stopped Gvardiol running off him so easily for the opener.

Morgan Gibbs-White played in a deeper role and he eventually grew into the contest

DANILO 6

After a sloppy start the Brazilian found his rhythm alongside Gibbs-White in a new central pair and started to ask more questions going forward early in the second half.

OLA AINA 7.5

Not many players beat Kyle Walker for pace but Aina did so early in the second half and it symbolised an excellent display from the former Chelsea man, who benefited hugely from Nuno’s decision to change the system.

CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI 6

Unlike Aina, he does not have the speed to test Walker and so the England defender was happy to show him the line. Could have contributed more.

Callum Hudson-0doi did not have the speed to test Kyle Walker and could have done more

CHRIS WOOD 4.5

That is now four huge chances wasted in games against Tottenham, Everton and City. Both these were poor: a miskick in front of an open goal and a weak effort that allowed Gvardiol to make a goalline clearance.

Chris Wood missed two big chances against City including a miskick in front of an open goal

ANTHONY ELANGA 6

Forest could not get the winger into the game before the break as Gvardiol had the upper hand but he sneaked past Walker to set up Wood for his second glaring miss.

Subs: Turner, Sangare (for Boly 85, 6), Toffolo, Reyna (for Elanga 74, 6), Yates (for Danilo 74, 6), Origi, Montiel (for Williams 35, 6), Omobamidele (for Murillo 74, 6), Ribeiro

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6

Referee: Simon Hooper 7