Manchester City had yet to muster a shot on target before finding themselves 2-0 down inside 18 minutes against Nottingham Forest. Forest ruthlessly punished City's mistakes on the break to deepen the domestic crisis engulfing Enzo Maresca's side, courtesy of two stunners from Delap and a strike by Jair Cunha (3-1).

League leaders just a week ago, City have now lost three consecutive Premier League fixtures in an alarming sequence of results. Even the pressure of reigning champions and league leaders Arsenal winning hours earlier failed to trigger an early reaction from City, who found themselves shell-shocked after conceding twice in the opening 18 minutes.

The shambolic opening stages laid bare the frailties of Maresca's side. For a squad blessed with such immense depth and quality, self-destructing so early was inexcusable. Every single goal for Nottingham Forest—who started the matchday in the drop zone with just one win from nine games and a five-week barren run—stemmed directly from City's sloppiness and lapses in concentration.

The breakthrough arrived in the fifth minute. Gvardiol overcomplicated on the ball, inviting pressure before surrendering possession cheaply in a dangerous area. Jair Cunha, a centre-back repurposed as a forward, punished the error in style by charging forward, cutting inside on his right foot and finishing coolly with his left.

Forest struck again in the 18th minute from a loose ball. Elliot Anderson and Ndiaye hesitated, each leaving it for the other, allowing Nottingham Forest to pounce. A blistering counter culminated in an unstoppable right-footed drive from Liam Delap that beat Donnarumma all ends up.

Bewildered glances were exchanged across the City ranks, yet the mission was clear: mount a fightback. City struggled throughout the first half, though Enzo Fernandez threatened with a header reminiscent of his midweek effort against Leipzig in the Champions League, which flew wide. Jair Cunha then produced a goal-line intervention to deny Erling Haaland just before the interval. Seeking answers, Enzo Maresca hooked defenders Gvardiol and Guehi at half-time.

City came out swinging after the restart, pouring forward in waves. Nottingham Forest dropped deep into survival mode, but their barricades were breached in the 52nd minute when Rayan Cherki smashed home a wonderful left-footed volley to set up a grandstand finish.

City threw everything at the hosts, but Liam Delap extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Forest launched a rapid break from their own box through Morgan Gibbs-White, before Delap swept across the entire pitch, collected the ball on the edge of the area, and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed strike into the top corner, leaving Donnarumma helpless and sealing a memorable triumph.