Pep Guardiola slams referee after Rodri red card but praises Man City star Jeremy Doku

Manchester City stayed top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest but not without a headache or two.

Phil Foden opened his account for the season after seven minutes before Erling Haaland scored his eighth of the campaign by grabbing City’s second on 14 minutes. However, the Blues would have to cope with 10 men for much of the second half.

Rodri was given his marching orders for reaching for the throat of Morgan Gibbs-White just minutes after the interval. Boss Pep Guardiola was not pleased with either the referee or the midfielder, but was more positive about Jeremy Doku..

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Guardiola revealed Rodri had apologised to his City teammates after he was sent off during the win against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad.

The defensive midfielder saw red inside the first minute of the second half after he shoved Gibbs-White in the throat during a confrontation between the two near the corner flag.

It left City, who led 2-0 at the time, hanging on as Steve Cooper threw on more and more attacking players, but the Blues survived the onslaught to make it six successive wins to start to the Premier League season.

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Guardiola praised Doku's decision-making in the final third after the £55million winger continued the bright start he has made to his City career against Nottingham Forest.

Doku produced another lively display in the 2-0 victory and was unfortunate to be substituted early in the second half as a result of the red card to Rodri.

His direct running created one chance for Julian Alvarez before the break and he was involved in the stylish move that led to Phil