Forthcoming Fixtures

I think you have to go back to the 2005/6 season for the last time we started the season with three wins against similar quality opposition. City's latest opponents Forest had also won their opening two games and so one of the 100% record's was going to go. City won the game with a first half goal from the on form Harry Bunn, with his fifth in three games.

It was Forest that had the better off the opening minutes and they were unlucky to see a fine strike from Daniel Meadows cannon of the post in the eighth minute that had beaten James Wood in the City goal. A minute later and Wood denied Kieran Freeman. That early spell seemed to wake City up and they began to create chances that forced the Forest goalkeeper into a couple of decent saves.

City's goal came when Joan Olle picked up the ball around the half way line and as he drove down the middle he  was able to evade the close markings of the Forest players and push forward before slipping a pass straight to the feet of Bunn who set himself and created some space before manoeuvring the ball onto his right foot and shooting into the far corner of the goal.

In City's next attack the ball went out for a corner.Alex Henshall swung it into the far post and Adam Drury's header struck the woodwork.

City continued to press forward and Forest's keeper was called into action a few times, in particular when he turned a twenty five yard shot from Courtney Meppen Walters over his cross bar, but with all the other attempts  City tried to walk the ball into the goal at times and with Forest being well organised prevented City from getting another goal onto the score sheet.

City started the second half as they had finished the first half with Jean Roman Olle forcing the Forest goalkeeper into a save from a fine strike that was put behind and over for a corner. Just before he was substituted Paul Clowes had a strong run that again led to a good save by the goalkeeper. Then Forest were able to scramble the ball off the line when Adam Drury had slid in.

Once Paul went off City's midfield seemed to lose a little of its shape which allowed Forest more space which they exploited as they pushed forward. So much so that in the sixty third minute a Forest forward was brought down in the area by Wood. The resulting penalty from Robbie Gibbons was not taken very well and his shot went wide of the right post.

Forest's best player, their number ten(Patrick Bamford) also went very close in the sixty seventh minute but his turn and shot went just wide. Forest continued to cause the City defence problems, with Keeper Zannettos Mytides going up for a free kick in time added on, but that came to no avail.Still in added time Forest again  found themselves virtually clean through but the shot by substitute striker Joe Swindell hit the base of the far post.

City should have an easier match next week when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday's Middlewood Road training ground and hopefully keep their 100% record in tact.

Team:

Manchester City:

Wood(GK), Coulson, T Skogsrud, Kennedy, K Skogsrud(Capt.), Clowes(Boyake 59), Drury(Rusnak 71), Meppen-Walter, Bunn, Olle, Henshall(Clarke-Adams 86)

Subs: Hippias, Richards.

The Under16's twice came from behind to draw with Forest 2-2. Jordi Hiwula and Louis Hutton were the City scorers