Manchester City revealed their class and composure to take all three points in
a pulsating First Division clash at the City Ground.
They even came from behind to underline their character and inflict another
defeat on David Platt's troubled side.
Badly needing survival points, Forest made a bright start but once City had
got into their stride there really only looked like being one winner.
The strike force of Shaun Goater, who scored twice and Robert Taylor, who
snatched City's first, had too much power for a depleted Forest side who lost
skipper Riccardo Scimeca through injury at half-time.
It all looked so promising for Forest when they took a seventh-minute lead
with a spectacular goal from Chris Bart-Williams.
City failed to clear an Alan Rogers cross and when Bart-Williams picked up
possession 30 yards out he exploded a right-foot shot past Nicky Weaver into the
top corner.
City almost hit back instantly when Gerard Wiekens sent a looping header onto
the bar from Mark Kennedy's corner, but the writing was on the wall for Forest
just after the half-hour mark.
Danny Tiatto and Goater set up Taylor in the 31st minute and after skipping
past the challenge of teenager Chris Doig, the former Gillingham striker shot
into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later the middle of Forest's defence remained static when Goater
moved in to lob his effort over advancing keeper Dave Beasant.
To their credit Forest produced a spirited reply after half-time and following
a move by Rogers and Jim Brennan, Dougie Freedman shot wide with just Weaver to
beat.
The City keeper also saved spectacularly when a Rogers free-kick threatened to
beat everyone and creep in at the far post.
But City survived and effectively killed the contest in the 83rd minute when
Goater headed home his second goal following a Kennedy free-kick.
Teams
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Louis-Jean, Scimeca (Dawson 46),
Doig (Merino 65), Brennan, Gray, Bart-Williams,
Quashie (Harewood 63), Rogers, Freedman, Lester.
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Petrachi.
Goals: Bart-Williams 9.
Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Wiekens, Jobson, Whitley,
Tiatto (Granville 65), Bishop (Pollock 70), Horlock, Kennedy,
Taylor (Dickov 77), Goater.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Grant.
Booked: Tiatto, Wiekens.
Goals: Taylor 31, Goater 35, 83.
Att: 25,846
Ref: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).
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