KYLE COMPLAINING

NOTTINGHAM FOREST undoubtedly made life difficult for Manchester City, though visiting boss Pep Guardiola claimed the dry pitch at the City Ground ultimately benefitted his side. That said, Kyle Walker was seen lodging a complaint that the grass was too dry with the league’s match manager ahead of kick-off. City prefer a slick pitch and they certainly found it tough retaining possession.

FURY over season ticket prices has touched almost every Premier League club and Forest are no different. Their Supporters’ Trust lambasted the decision to hike prices by as much as 28 per cent in some areas of the City Ground. And, by way of protest, the Forza Garibaldi group didn’t produce their usual pre-match display. The only banner at the Trent End read: ‘Premier League, for the few not the many.’

IT took 16 minutes for the home ends to start singing about refereeing corruption after Simon Hooper turned away a penalty shout when Ederson collided with Willy Boly. That animosity was a hangover of the controversy surrounding Stuart Attwell at Everton — and that Forest statement — with the club dedicating a section of the programme’s ‘match report’ from Goodison Park to referee Anthony Taylor’s performance.

WHO would have thought that Pep Guardiola would reach this milestone when he arrived all fresh and suited eight years ago? The Catalan became only the fifth manager to take charge of 300 Premier League games with one club. It was only supposed to be a three-year assignment and it makes you think how this level of success can possibly be replicated once Guardiola has departed.

GARETH SOUTHGATE will be taking a keen interest in John Stones at the moment. The defender has made just 21 starts this season and, given his importance to Guardiola, any spell on the bench can only be down to fitness. City’s win percentage with him is 81 per cent and more than 10 per cent lower when he’s not starting. It paints something of a picture and England need him fit.