Nottingham Forest lead Manchester City 2-0 at half-time after a dismal first half away from home for Enzo Maresca's side. It appears the new manager has finally lost Pep Guardiola's legacy, which departed for Spain with the Catalan.
The hosts opened the scoring in the sixth minute when defender Jair Cunha sent the ball into the visitors' net. The Brazilian had already tested the goalkeeper in the third minute, but City were saved on that occasion.
Manchester City responded with attacks from Jeremy Doku and Enzo Fernandez, but their shots lacked accuracy. Nottingham Forest were more dangerous on the counter-attack, with James McAtee and Murillo regularly threatening the visitors' goal.
Forest doubled their lead in the 18th minute. Xaver Schlager provided the pass and Liam Delap finished clinically to make it 2-0.
Maresca's side tried to pull a goal back before the interval. Erling Haaland led an attack in the 32nd minute but could not beat the home goalkeeper. Another powerful effort from the Norwegian went wide in the 41st minute. Just before the half-time whistle, Elliot Anderson had a shot on target, but the hosts held firm and went into the break with a comfortable two-goal lead.
