Man City players give Pep Guardiola instant response with 7% swing in Forest win

Oh, Kevin De Bruyne.

The football gods have not been smiling on Manchester City lately, with a relentless list of injuries and seemingly every mistake on the pitch punished by unsympathetic opponents. The best players tend to get the luck as well though, and De Bruyne went from a potential zero to certain hero again in the space of a minute against Nottingham Forest.

Back in the team for his first start since September 16, the Belgian produced one of his trademark defence-splitting balls in the first half...past his own defence. Ruben Dias could not recover and the in-form Chris Wood stormed through on goal, only to lash his effort wide of Stefan Ortega's post.

READ MORE: Man City player ratings vs Nottingham Forest

READ MORE: Why Phil Foden missed Man City win over Forest

As Pep Guardiola was still coming to terms with what happened, Jeremy Doku was afforded too much space at the other end and gave it to De Bruyne - free in the penalty area - to take a touch and smash home a second goal. It wouldn't have been a surprise given City's run if the returning hero had ruined another positive start, yet De Bruyne carried an air about him all evening that felt invincible.

It is not one he has carried for over two months after a painful and frustrating injury, and not one the team have felt for about six weeks as their fine start to the season has come crashing down around them. Perhaps there was always going to be a response to that limp first half at Anfield, but it was impossible not to feel that the return of City's king (and captain) had lifted all of his teammates.

Erling Haaland relished the reality of a player in the team always looking to get him in on goal, and - more importantly - there was also fresh legs in