Premier League: Semenyo scores, Aït-Nouri assists but Manchester City suffer title race setback

Antoine Semenyo continued his scoring ways and Rayan Aït-Nouri provided another assist but Manchester City could only manage a 2-2 Premier League draw at home against relegation battlers Nottingham Forest.

It looked like the hosts would storm to a routine victory at the Etihad when Semenyo produced a stellar volley from Rayan Cherki’s cross shortly after the half hour mark.

However, a stubborn second half performance earned Forest an unexpected point away from home to keep themselves out of the relegation zone for the time being.

The ominous signs began to arrive for the Citizens in the 56th minute when star playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White pulled the visitors level. City appeared to squash the resistance when Aït-Nouri’s corner kick found the head of Rodri, who nodded the hosts back into the lead from the Algerian’s assist.

But when Callum Hudson-Odoi set up Elliot Anderson for the Forest response with a little over fifteen minutes remaining, Manchester City could not find a late goal to squeeze out three points. It is a big blow to Pep Guardiola’s charges, who remain seven points behind leaders Arsenal with one more game in hand on the Gunners.

 

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Semenyo now has 9 goals and 2 assists in 12 matches since joining City in January, while Aït-Nouri is establishing himself as a valuable presence on the left flank after a difficult first half of the campaign. Next up is a FA Cup fixture on Saturday at Newcastle United.