Liam Delap scores twice as Nottingham Forest defeats Manchester City 3-1

Nottingham Forest secured a 3-1 Premier League victory over Manchester City, handing Enzo Maresca’s side their third consecutive league defeat as Liam Delap netted a brace.

Jair Cunha opened the scoring for Forest after dispossessing Josko Gvardiol. Liam Delap then extended the lead with two goals scored during muscular surges on the break. The Guardian reported that this result earned Nottingham Forest their first home league win since April.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca criticized his team's performance, citing a lack of desire and intensity. Maresca noted that while City had better possession and more chances inside the box, they lost nearly all their duels and second balls in the first half. He described the second and third goals conceded as "copy and paste" errors following lost duels.

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner praised his players for their tactical discipline and passionate defending. While Glasner admitted the team has played better football in other games, he highlighted their ability to attack at the right moments against City’s structure. ESPN noted the defeat causes City to slip further behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

BBC Sport analyst Danny Murphy suggested the victory could represent a turning point for Forest in their first season under Glasner. The win follows a difficult run for City, who have now lost three games in a row after starting the season with seven consecutive victories.

Background

Manchester City's losing streak began with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, followed by a 1-0 home loss against Brighton. Oliver Glasner entered the match having previously expressed frustration over tactical compromises following a defeat at Brentford.