Manchester City draws 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in a major dent to Premier League title ambitions

Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson struck a late equaliser to shock Manchester City ​with a 2-2 draw on Wednesday, a result that left Pep Guardiola’s side ‌dropping precious points in the Premier League title race.

Second-placed ​City was left frustrated after failing to see out ⁠a match it had largely controlled and now trails leader Arsenal by seven points after 29 games — although it has a game in hand ‌over the Gunners. Forest is hovering just above the drop zone in 17th with 28 points.

Antoine Semenyo put City ‌on the scoresheet in the 31st minute when he volleyed ‌home ⁠Rayan Cherki’s cross from the centre of the box.

Morgan ⁠Gibbs-White equalised in the 56th minute with a stunning back-heeled shot from close range through the legs of Ruben Dias and in at the near post past ​the outstretched hands of Gianluigi ‌Donnarumma.

Rodri celebrated what he thought was the winner when he headed home from a corner in the 62nd minute for his first Premier League goal of the season.

But Anderson had the visiting ‌fans in raptures in the 76th minute when he curled ​a strike from 25 yards out past Donnarumma.

City had 21 shots to Forest’s nine, and in a final ⁠frantic few minutes, fans at Etihad Stadium yelled “shoot!” every time a City player got near the net.

They obliged. City’s Savinho had the final ‌kick of the game with a close-range shot that looked headed for the gaping net before defender Murillo cleared it off the line.

“A tough game, but with a lot of personality by my team,” Forest boss Vitor Pereira said. “It’s important too, to come here and to prove ourselves that we can get points everywhere . . . we can ‌play good football and we can get points.”

City fans screamed for a penalty ​in injury time when Rodri stabbed his shot wide of the net, and was hit in the leg in ⁠the process. A VAR check ruled no penalty.

Semenyo had a chance to ⁠secure City all three points deep into injury time when he launched a free kick but Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels ‌tipped the ball over the bar.

Forest also missed an opportunity to score a late winner after Ryan Yates met Anderson’s corner ​at the near post but launched the ball just wide

Published on Mar 05, 2026