Nottingham Forest 0 Man City 2: Haaland scores on return but nervy champs unconvincing as they keep title in their hands

THERE was no pointing the finger at VAR, the Premier League or anyone else.

Due to some diabolical finishing, Forest have only themselves to blame for delivering a win which could have caused an earthquake at the top of the Premier League while pushing Luton and Burnley ever closer to the drop.

Ultimately, Forest wasted four excellent chances against a City team who were not anywhere near their best but were able to keep Arsenal within their sights.

This was courtesy of a goal in each half from defender Josko Gvardiol and the fit-again Erling Haaland, who grabbed effort no 32 of the season, nine minutes after arriving as a substitute.

City’s fans, mocking Liverpool’s spectacular collapse, merrily sang ‘Jurgen’s cracking up’ but luckily for them, Pep Guardiola’s team is not.

Once again, Guardiola’s team overcame a psychological barrier of having seen Arsenal play before them and win.

There will be a repeat on Saturday when Arsenal entertain Bournemouth at lunchtime and City face Wolves in the evening.

But when you have won three titles in a row, these type of situations are a bit easier to handle.

And the same applies to this tricky gamer at the City Ground where Forest were roared on by an enthusiastic crowd and caused City some major problems.

Guardiola’s team accepted the fortune dished out to them by Forest’s wasteful finishing, remained patient and then sealed the game with Haaland’s strike.

Kyle Walker did not enjoy one of his better games at right back, keeper Ederson suffered an injury for the third time in an away game this season and was replaced by Stefan Ortega while Julian Alvarez laboured up front.

Guardiola was so concerned by the problems his team suffered in the first half that at half-time that he replaced the