Nottingham Forest produced the shock of the Premier League season so far, beating Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday and handing the champions a third defeat in a row.
Forest struck twice inside the first 18 minutes. Jair Cunha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and Liam Delap doubled the lead 12 minutes later with a powerful finish after breaking through the City defence. The former City academy striker, who had managed only one goal in his previous eight league games, was the difference on the night.
City improved after the break and pulled one back in the 52nd minute, when Rayan Cherki beat goalkeeper Matz Sels with a superb half-volley. But Forest held firm, and Delap settled the contest in the 73rd minute, finishing a swift counter-attack involving Morgan Gibbs-White with an angled strike into the far corner.
Ryan Yates struck the crossbar for Forest before Delap’s second goal ended the contest.
A season turned upside down
The result caps a remarkable reversal for both clubs. City won their first seven league games of the campaign, but have now lost three in a row, having been beaten by Aston Villa and Brighton before this trip to Nottingham. They are only the second team in English top-flight history to win their opening seven matches of a season and then lose the next three, after Sheffield Wednesday in 1904-05.
For Forest, the win brought their first home league victory of the season and their first home goals of the campaign. Delap is only the second player to score twice in a Premier League match against City after previously playing for them, after Nicolas Anelka for Bolton Wanderers in December 2006. It lifted Oliver Glasner’s side to 16th place on nine points, out of the relegation zone, and the Forest coach sprinted down the touchline to celebrate Delap’s second goal.
What it means at the top
Arsenal remain top of the table on 27 points after 10 games, following their 1-0 win over Hull City earlier on Saturday. City stay second on 21 points, six behind the leaders, with their title challenge now under serious pressure.
