It was always going to be a tough test for Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium, but an early goal from Phil Foden meant the game plan went out the window and they never really recovered.

The opening goal came from a sublime lofted through ball by Rodri into the path of Kyle Walker, whose delicate touch back was thumped home first time by Foden.

At that point you feared the worst for Forest and Man City were completely dominant of possession and chances. It wasn't long before that man Erling Haaland got on the scoresheet, nodding home a cross from Nunes.

The first half went by without too much more action and in the beIN SPORTS studio, anchor Richard Keys bemoaned that Forest had to make it scrappy and leave an impression on them.

That's exactly what transpired as a minute into the second half a scrap between Rodri and Morgan Gibbs-White ended with the Spaniard being sent off for pushing the Forest man in the throat.

In truth, Gibbs-White knew what he was doing by going down so dramatically, but it was foolish of Rodri to put himself in the situation.

Once with the one man advantage, Steve Cooper made attacking substitutions and they saw more of the ball, but Man City defended well and Ederson did not really get tested as much as he thought he might.