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Sports & Cricket
Delap Double Stuns Man City as Forest Win 3-1 at City Ground
Liam Delap scored twice against his former club as Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground, handing City a third straight Premier League defeat and lifting Forest out of the relegation zone.
⚡Key Highlights
Premium
Liam Delap scored twice against his former club as Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground, handing City a third straight Premier League defeat and lifting Forest out of the relegation zone.
Special coverage and in-depth reporting from the Sports & Cricket desk.
Key analysis, background details, and full reporting below.
Liam Delap scored twice against his former club as Nottingham Forest stunned Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday, handing the champions a third straight Premier League defeat and lifting Forest out of the relegation zone.
By StoryTimesNow Sports Desk — 08 November 2026, 7:06 AM IST
Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday, 7 November 2026. (Illustration: StoryTimesNow)
Key Takeaways
Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Liam Delap scoring twice against his former club after Jair Cunha's opener.
City have now lost three Premier League matches in a row and sit six points behind leaders Arsenal, who have 27 points from 10 games.
Forest climb to 16th on nine points and out of the relegation zone, while Manchester United drop into the bottom three overnight.
It was Forest's first home win of the season and their first home league win since April, achieved with just 22% of the possession.
Introduction
Nottingham Forest needed less than 20 minutes to turn the Premier League title race on its head. Jair Cunha struck in the sixth minute and Liam Delap doubled the lead in the 18th; Rayan Cherki pulled one back early in the second half, but Delap's second goal in the 73rd minute sealed a famous 3-1 win at a rain-soaked City Ground on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
The result leaves City six points behind Arsenal, while Forest claim a first home win of the season under Oliver Glasner — built on ruthless finishing, with just 22% of the ball.
What Happened?
Forest struck first in the sixth minute, Jair Cunha taking the ball off Josko Gvardiol and beating Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first goal for the club, ending four home Premier League games without a goal.
Another City giveaway let Delap drive 50 yards and blast past Donnarumma in the 18th minute to make it 2-0, his first goal at the City Ground for Forest.
Cherki gave City hope with a thunderbolt in the 52nd minute. But Delap restored the two-goal cushion in the 73rd, racing the length of the pitch with Morgan Gibbs-White and slamming the return pass in off the post, as Glasner sprinted down the touchline in celebration.
City, who had beaten RB Leipzig 3-2 in the Champions League in midweek, never found a way back.
Why Does This Matter?
For Manchester City, the defeat is a serious blow to their title defence. After winning their first seven league games, they have now lost at Aston Villa, at home to Brighton and at Forest. Coach Enzo Maresca blamed a lack of intensity, and City will spend the international break six points behind Arsenal.
For Forest, the win is worth more than three points. One win from nine games had left them in the relegation zone; climbing to 16th, and sending Manchester United into the bottom three, changes the mood entirely. For Delap, the brace against his former club could ignite his Forest career after his club-record move from Chelsea.
Important Details
Goalscorers, Nottingham Forest 3-1 Manchester City, Saturday 7 November 2026:
Minute
Scorer
Team
6
Jair Cunha
Nottingham Forest
18
Liam Delap (assist: Xaver Schlager)
Nottingham Forest
52
Rayan Cherki
Manchester City
73
Liam Delap (assist: Morgan Gibbs-White)
Nottingham Forest
Match facts: City Ground, Nottingham; Premier League Matchday 10; half-time 2-0; referee Samuel Barrott; Forest possession 22%.
Background and Context
Forest came into the match with one win from nine league games under Glasner, in the bottom three, and without a goal in four home Premier League matches. Their last home league win had come in April.
City arrived having won their opening seven league fixtures, but a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa and a 1-0 home loss to Brighton had ended the perfect start, and a midweek Champions League trip to beat RB Leipzig 3-2 left a short turnaround.
Delap came through City's academy before moving to Chelsea and then joining Forest in a club-record deal. His brace took him to three league goals this season — two in one evening against the club where he began his career.
What Happens Next?
The Premier League now pauses for the November international break. City will spend the fortnight picking over a third straight defeat, with Maresca under pressure to restore the intensity he said was missing.
Forest go into the break with momentum and a first home win to build on, with Delap now looking like the striker they paid a club-record fee for.
What Readers Should Know
Arsenal lead on 27 points from 10 matches, six clear of Manchester City. Forest are 16th on nine points, out of the relegation zone, with Manchester United now in the bottom three.
FAQs
What was the final score between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City?
Forest won 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday, 7 November 2026 — Cunha in the sixth minute, Delap in the 18th and 73rd, Cherki replying for City in the 52nd.
How many Premier League games have Manchester City lost in a row?
Three. City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa, 1-0 at home to Brighton, and now 3-1 at Nottingham Forest, after winning their first seven league games of the season.
Where do Forest and City sit in the table now?
Forest are 16th on nine points, out of the relegation zone. City are six points behind leaders Arsenal, who have 27 points from 10 games.
Sources and Verification
The scorers, goal minutes, possession figure and standings are from match reports published on 7 November 2026, cross-checked across Reuters, Opta Analyst, NBC Sports and USA Today.
Reuters — Man City felled by Forest as title challenge stutters (7 November 2026)
Opta Analyst — Forest 3-1 Man City stats: Delap double (7 November 2026)
NBC Sports — Forest 3-1 Man City: reaction and highlights (7 November 2026)
USA Today — Man City loses again, stunned by Forest (7 November 2026)
Goal minutes are cross-checked across the Reuters, Opta Analyst, NBC Sports and USA Today reports of 7 November 2026, which agree on Cunha 6, Delap 18 and 73, and Cherki 52. Points totals are as reported after the match.
