- Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 to continue their title charge
- City were made to work for the three points on a surface they believed to be dry
- Can Arsenal win a trophy for progress? The Gunners have recovered but there’s the final hurdle – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Manchester City kept up their Premier League title charge after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 to move just a point behind current leaders Arsenal.
Erling Haaland marked his return to action with a goal in the second half to wrap up the victory for City and ensure their destiny remains in their own hands.
Haaland coolly slotted into the bottom corner shortly after coming on while Josko Gvardiol had made the breakthrough after nodding home Kevin De Bruyne‘s corner.
City have a game in hand over Arsenal and were made to work hard for their victory on the banks of the River Trent, with Forest squandering several golden openings.
Here, Mail Sport‘s JACK GAUGHAN takes you through some of the stories you might have missed from the City Ground…
Manchester City kept up their Premier League title charge after beating Nottingham Forest
![Erling Haaland marked his return with a goal as City moved just a point behind leaders Arsenal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/28/19/84193173-13359795-image-a-20_1714329227123.jpg)
Erling Haaland marked his return with a goal as City moved just a point behind leaders Arsenal
WALKER’S PITCH COMPLAINT
Nottingham Forest undoubtedly made life difficult for Manchester City – and the visiting captain had a theory of how they wanted to gain an advantage before a ball had been kicked.
Kyle Walker was seen lodging a complaint with the Premier League‘s match manager out on the pitch in what is understood to have been a grievance about the state of the surface.
Walker’s misgivings were that the grass was too dry – City better when pitches are slick – and they certainly found it tough retaining possession quickly. Forest had obviously done nothing wrong though.
![Kyle Walker lodged a complaint over the pitch to officials before a ball had even been kicked](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/28/19/84193179-13359795-image-a-24_1714329555692.jpg)
Kyle Walker lodged a complaint over the pitch to officials before a ball had even been kicked
FOREST FURY OVER PRICES
Furore over season ticket prices has touched almost every Premier League club over the past few weeks and Forest is no different. Their Supporters’ Trust lambasted the decision to hike prices by as much as 28 per cent in some areas of the City Ground.
Forest held meetings with fan groups last week ahead of their first home game since the announcement, while ‘Forza Garibaldi’ decided against organising their usual pre-match display in the Trent End in protest. The only (small) banner at that end read ‘Premier League, for the few not the many,’ in reference to the club’s general discontent.
REFEREEING HANGOVER
It took 16 minutes for the home ends to be signing of refereeing corruption after Simon Hooper turned away a penalty shout when Ederson collided with Willy Boly. That soon turned to venturing that Hooper didn’t know what he was doing when blowing for a foul on Jack Grealish.
That animosity was a hangover of the controversy surrounding Stuart Attwell at Everton – and that Forest statement – with the club dedicating a chunky paragraph of its programme’s ‘match report’ from Goodison Park to Anthony Taylor’s performance.
![Referee Simon Hooper was targeted with corruption chants after waving away a penalty shout](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/28/19/84193197-13359795-image-a-22_1714329301233.jpg)
Referee Simon Hooper was targeted with corruption chants after waving away a penalty shout
PEP’S LEGACY
Who thought that Pep Guardiola would reach this milestone when he arrived all fresh and suited eight years ago?
Now 300 Premier League games up for the Catalan (221 wins) – and only the fifth manager to ever achieve that feat with a single club. Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, David Moyes and Jurgen Klopp complete the list.
It had only supposed to be a three-year assignment for Guardiola and it makes you think how this level of success can possibly be replicated once he’s gone.
STONES KEY FOR COUNTRY
Gareth Southgate will be taking a keen interest in John Stones at the moment. The central defender has made just 21 starts this season (12 in the league) and, given his importance to Guardiola, any spell on the bench can only be down to fitness.
While not an exact science, City’s win percentage with him is 81 per cent and more than 10 per cent lower when he’s not starting. It paints something of a picture and England need him fit.
![John Stones has made just 21 starts for City this season but England need him fully fit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/28/19/84193205-13359795-image-a-23_1714329320427.jpg)
John Stones has made just 21 starts for City this season but England need him fully fit
Source From: Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Mail Online
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