The French international had not found the back of the net since the season’s opening day, but his intervention in the 83rd minute proved to be the difference, securing a sixth consecutive win for Pep Guardiola’s side. The result momentarily vaulted the champions to the summit of the table, piling the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their fixture against Brighton.
For long stretches, it appeared City would be forced to settle for a draw. A resolute Forest side had clawed their way back into the contest when Omari Hutchinson canceled out Tijjani Reijnders’ opener—a goal also orchestrated by Cherki. Yet, the manner in which City ground out this result serves as an ominous signal to their title rivals: even when not at their flowing best, they find a way to win.
The outcome felt harsh on Nottingham Forest, who matched their illustrious opponents for eighty minutes only to be undone in the closing stages. The afternoon was already heavy with emotion as the club paid tribute to John Robertson, the legendary winger who passed away on Christmas Day. Described by Brian Clough as “the Picasso of our game” and a cornerstone of the back-to-back European Cup triumphs of 1979 and 1980, Robertson’s memory was honored before kick-off.
While Clough’s historic side was defined by flair, Sean Dyche’s current iteration is built on iron discipline. They were more than effective in a stifling first half where neither side managed a single shot on target. Indeed, the hosts arguably had the better opening, with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s teasing cross in the seventh minute narrowly evading both Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White.
The complexion of the match changed entirely within three minutes of the restart. With their first shot on target, City struck. A lucid passage of play saw Cherki slide a pass to Reijnders, who fired a low, first-time finish beneath Forest goalkeeper John Victor. Moments later, John was called upon to produce a magnificent reflex save, tipping a Cherki effort onto the post to keep his side in the game.
That reprieve proved vital as Forest rallied. In the 54th minute, a swift counter-attack led by Gibbs-White saw Jesus pull the ball back for Hutchinson, who drilled home from 12 yards to restore parity. The equalizer injected chaos into the game, with both sides trading blows. Neco Williams saw a stinging drive palmed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Nicola Savona blazed the rebound over from a tight angle.
As the clock ticked down, the tide began to turn in City’s favor. Phil Foden, dazzling with his footwork, seemed destined to score, only for John to stick out a leg and make a crucial save. However, the sense of inevitability that surrounds Guardiola’s team eventually prevailed. In the 83rd minute, a corner fell kindly to Cherki in the box. This time, there was no mistake, as he rifled a low finish past the helpless goalkeeper, sealing three points and reminding the league that City remain the team to beat.