Manchester City loses 3-1 to Nottingham Forest, extending losing streak to three

Manchester City suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on November 7, 2026, extending their losing streak to three consecutive Premier League matches. The result marked a dramatic reversal for City, who had won their opening seven league games before losing to Aston Villa (1-2) and Brighton (0-1) in the previous two rounds.

Forest, who began the match in 19th place in the relegation zone, dominated the opening period and built a commanding 2-0 lead within 18 minutes. Jair Cunha opened the scoring in the sixth minute after dispossessing Josko Gvardiol in midfield, while former City striker Liam Delap doubled the advantage in the 18th minute, running from midfield and firing past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Delap broke a 510-minute goal drought for Forest with his second-half brace, including a well-taken finish in the 73rd minute that sealed the victory. Rayan Cherki pulled one back for City early in the second half with a half-volley, but City's attacking efforts, including chances for Erling Haaland, proved insufficient.

The defeat left City in second place, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Forest climbed out of the relegation zone with the victory, their first home league win since April 2025. The result marked a rare historical occurrence: according to multiple sources, the opening seven-game winning streak followed by a three-game losing streak was the first time in English top-flight history since Sheffield Wednesday in the 1904-05 season — a gap of 122 years.

Manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged City's defensive vulnerabilities, stating that the team failed to match Forest's intensity in the first half and committed critical errors in transition play. "We won the first seven in a row and that's never happened, and now we've lost three in a row — it's football," Maresca told Sky Sports. "We have to try to be better game after game." The loss also marked the first time since 2007, before City's Abu Dhabi takeover, that City trailed at halftime in three consecutive league matches. Manchester United, with a game in hand, dropped into the relegation zone following the result.