Man City v Nottingham Forest player ratings: Foden 8, Haaland 7; Tavares 4, Boly 7

Premier League leaders maintain 100 per cent record with 1-0 win at Etihad Stadium

Ederson 7/10

MAN CITY RATINGS: Not a save to make until 71st minute and even that was a tame Elanga volley at his near post from tight angle. Easy save from Boly attempt late on. Booked after going head-to-head wiShow more

Kyle Walker 8/10

Perfectly timed run and velvet touch to set-up Foden’s opener. Rare sight in second half when the City right-back was beaten for pace by Aina down. Is in top form at the moment. PA

Ruben Dias 8/10

Match went from being walk in the park, to backs against the wall at times after Rodri sending off as Forest threw caution to the wind. Portuguese defender stood firm though and helped keep real ForesShow more

Josko Gvardiol 7/10

Big-money summer signing hardly trouble in first half although there was some wayward passing from the Croatian. Went down holding his face at one point in second half despite fact Origi kicking him iShow more

Manuel Akanji 7/10

Booked for tripping Awoniyi right on edge of area with only fact there was covering defender preventing possible red. Apart from that, usual steady game from Swiss. AP

Rodri 6/10

In thick of action from start with crunching tackles and sending a superb ball behind defence to find Walker and help set-up Foden’s early goal. Had ran the show from midfield then suddenly saw red stShow more

Jeremy Doku 8/10

Scored first City goal last weekend and ripped through Forest’s defence at will in first half here. Winger was sacrificed just after break following Rodri’s red card. Reuters

Matheus Nunes 7/10

Summer signing from Wolves produced a beautiful cross to pick out Haaland for City’s second goal. Good all-round performance from Portugal midfielder. Getty

Phil Foden 8/10

Cracking first-time finish to put City in front after seven minutes – after a 46-pass City move - and played key role in Haaland scoring second. Deserved standing ovation when taken off late on. EPA

Julian Alvarez 7/10

Drove shot straight at keeper when he could have put City 3-0 up as they ran riot early on but was key figure in scintillating attacking display from City. Taken off in reshuffle after sending off. GeShow more

BRITAIN SOCCER

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the 2-0 goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in Manchester, Britain, 23 September 2023Show more

Kalvin Phillips 7/10

SUBS: (On for Doku 52’) Brought on to add some protection in front of the defence for 10-man City, which is exactly what the England midfielder did. Getty

Nathan Ake 7/10

(On for Alvarez 57’) Good run and ball across six-yard box that you would normally expect Haaland to finish, but the Norwegian fired over. AP

Jack Grealish N/A.

(On for Foden 87’) Only on for few minutes but still managed to get himself in crossed words with several Forest players. PA

Matt Turner 7/10

NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: No chance with either goal as defence failed to contain some superb City attacking moves. Wayward finishing rather than saves from Turner kept score at 2-0. EPA

Moussa Niakhate 6/10

Helpless as Forest’s defence was ripped to shreds by fantastic City start to game. Even with 10 men, City caused the Forest defence problems with Foden in particular a constant menace. Reuters

Willy Boly 7/10

Brilliant sliding block to prevent Alvarez making it 3-0 as Forest desperately tried to prevent a goals avalanche in first half. Hit shot straight at Ederson in injury-time. AP

Ola Aina 6/10

Given run around the City midfield with Doku ghosting past the Forest defender at will and would have been delighted when the Belgian went off in second half. Reuters

Serge Aurier 5/10

Was guilty of losing Haaland before Norwegian scored City’s second. Experienced Ivorian was sacrificed as Forest brough on attackers as they went chasing game in second half. EPA

Nuno Tavares 4/10

Caught out by Rodri’s wonderful ball over defence ahead of Foden’s opener. Booked for cynical foul on Doku to halt City counter-attack. Pulled up with what looked like a groin injury bringing an earlyShow more

Ibrahim Sangare 6/10

Booked for late challenge on Rodri at end of a first-half where Forest’s midfield had been chasing shadows from start to finish. EPA

Orel Mangala 6/10

Like rest of teammates, helpless in face of a fantastic opening 45 minutes of football from City. Fired first-time effort way over bar from edge of area just after break. Booked for foul on Foden lateShow more

Nicolas Dominguez 5/10

Argentine couldn’t get near City’s midfield until Rodri’s sending off. Sent first-time shot wide of target from edge of area in second half. AP

Taiwo Awoniyi 5/10

Bundled over by Akanji in rare Forest attack in first half when almost through on goal. Had another opportunity in first-half injury-time but control let him down before getting shot away. Booked afteShow more

Morgan Gibbs-White 5/10

Saw free-kick on edge in first half are take big deflection wrong-footing Ederson but spinning out for corner. Went down theatrically after Rodri put hands round his throat. Picked up booking in same Show more

Gonzalo Montiel 7/10

SUBS: (On for Tavares 42’) Fine tracking back followed by vital sliding challenge to prevent Foden crossing ball to Haaland in second-half City counter-attack. EPA

Anthony Elanga 7/10

(On for Sangare 56’) Former Manchester United player ignored the home fans’ jeers and went close to pulling one back in injury-time only to be denied by excellent Ederson save. Getty

Callum Hudson-Odoi 5/10

(On for Aurier 56) Scored cracker against Burnley last week but couldn’t produce same when Forest desperately needed that cutting edge here. EPA

Chris Wood 5/10

(On for Awoniyi 75’) No opportunity for big striker to make an impact. Reuters

Divock Origi 5/10

(On for Aina 75’) Another attacking sub by Forest but another who could not drag team back into contest. EPA

Pep Guardiola admitted he was angry with Rodri after the influential midfielder was sent off in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

The Spain international was dismissed early in the second half of Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium after raising his hands to the neck of Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.

Rodri protested at the time, and there was a delay before referee Anthony Taylor’s decision was upheld by VAR, and Guardiola claimed there could be no excuses for his conduct.

The City manager said: “Hopefully Rodri will learn. The game was perfect with 35 minutes gone and after it became chaos.

“That’s not our responsibility, that’s for sure, but Rodri has to control himself and his emotions. I can get a yellow card but Rodri can’t. I don’t play.

“I said at half-time, ‘Be careful guys, relax, control your emotions’. Unfortunately, Rodri could not do it. Now we have to accept the decisions.”

Asked if he was angry with Rodri, Guardiola said: “Yes. I don’t like to play with 10 for our faults. He has apologised.”

City saw out the closing stages to make it six straight Premier League wins and move five points clear with their rivals all not in action until Sunday.

Check out the photo gallery above for the player ratings from the Etihad Stadium. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.