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Man City close in on Arsenal with 5th straight win

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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at City Ground on April 28, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at City Ground on April 28, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Manchester City kept themselves firmly in the Premier League title race after a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.

Man City made two changes from their big win over Brighton and Hove Albion, as Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku were recalled, with Erling Haaland featuring on the bench for the first time in three games and Phil Foden missed out due to illness.

Forest had a bright start as they created chances in the early exchanges but were not clinical in front of goal.

Nuno Espirito Santo's charges were nearly punished on nine minutes for not taking their chances after Kevin De Bruyne's curling shot towards the bottom corner was smothered by goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Pep Guardiola's charges eventually broke the deadlock around the half-hour mark after Josko Gvardiol powered home a header at the near post from a corner by De Bruyne.

Forest had big chances on their attacks towards the end of the first stanza, with the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood guilty of fluffing their lines.

The home side continued to carve out clear opportunities from the break, as three minutes later Wood had a tap-in chance from close-range but he fired a tame effort that was cleared by Gvardiol.

The pace of the game slowed down after that and just after the hour-mark, Guardiola changed the approach in attack as Haaland replaced Grealish.

The Norwegian forward made an immediate impact, as he doubled the lead for City 19 minutes before time with a strike, one-on-one with Sels after a through ball by De Bruyne.

The Citizens were in control of the game in the closing stages as they bossed possession stakes and slowed down the tempo of the game.

Guardiola's troops reduced the deficit behind leaders Arsenal to a single point in second spot on the log, with a game in hand.

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