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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the win: "It was more than hard. It was such a difficult game, but we knew that. The game we played in Brighton feels like a few hours ago, so it is always difficult.

"Coming here, Liverpool won in the 99th minute and Arsenal won 2-1, so it is always difficult to come here. It was a difficult game, we suffered a lot but at the end we take it."

On the best things about the performance: "We defended the box really good, especially with Manu [Akanji], Nathan [Ake] and Josko [Gvardiol]. Then, in the last half an hour, when Bernardo [Silva] comes inside with Kova [Kovacic], we controlled the game more. We are a team that survives with the ball.

"It is a lot of games and we knew today would be difficult for many reasons, but we take the win and move forward."

On playing after their rivals in the title race: "The pressure is how you play. If you play good and control the game, then people say you don't feel the pressure. If you play bad, people say you can feel the pressure.

"In certain moments, we suffered. We were lucky today the pitch was so dry because of the chances they missed - that was the reason why. We were lucky today that the pitch was in these conditions."

On Erling Haaland's return and the absence of others: "It is important that he is back and doing what he does. Kevin found him and it was a really good finish. He was not ready for 90 minutes, but it was good for him to be back.

"Ruben [Dias] had a fever and made the effort to go to Brighton, but since coming back from there it has gotten worse. Phil [Foden] said today that he doesn't feel good, so that is why he couldn't be with us."

On having six days off now: "First have two or three days off, people have to rest and refresh the mind, do a training session, have fun and then prepare for the next game against Wolves."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle has been discussing Manchester City's chances of a fourth consecutive Premier League title and the return of Erling Haaland on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Erling Haaland is a goal scorer, it's as simple as that.

"He isn't known for his link-up play, dribbling or skills - he is a goal scorer and that is what he is good at. It was a good finish and he passed it into the bottom corner.

"With Erling Haaland coming back, he will probably be the difference.

"Manchester City are just an outfit who know how to win matches, they know what they need to do.

"The ball was very lively and it caused City a few problems, but credit to Forest's tactics. They were good and they caught City on the break.

"For an hour, Forest gave them a very good game."

Manchester City goalscorer Josko Gvardiol has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I am more than happy to score one more goal in this difficult game to help the team. Also, it was a great ball from Kevin [de Bruyne], we know his qualities.

"I am more happy about getting the three points. Finally we have six days to rest and recover well, and prepare for the next one."

On playing a more advanced role today: "At the beginning it was one idea, then the manager changed it after half an hour, then again at half-time he made a change back so we were doing the same as at the beginning of the game.

"To be fair, I was a bit lost because I didn't know exactly what he wanted from me, but he was much clearer after at half-time."

On the result not conveying how tough the game was: "Yes, the result looks like the match was pretty easy but the conditions were really tough, especially the pitch. The grass was really dry, which is what we expected before the game.

"I get it because they were also fighting for the points but, as I said, it was difficult. At the end of the day, it's three points back home."

On if there is more pressure playing after the other title hopefuls: "If you ask me, not really no. They have played one game more than us, so all we need to do is to go game by game.

"The end of the season is coming soon and we need to be 100% focused."

On this part of the season being City's time of year: "I have heard it a lot, yes. It is my first season, it is really difficult and it is really stressful, but that is why I'm here.

"I am really enjoying it and hopefully we are going to win it [the Premier League], but there are still four games to play."

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "It is an important win, it does not matter how we do it. It is good to be back.

"We knew it was going to be a fight, and the pitch was not the easiest to play on, but we cannot complain.

"It is about winning and that is exactly what we did."

Image source, Getty Images

It gets to a certain point in the season where it seems Manchester City can put in an average performance and still win games.

Recent history tells us that when it matters, Pep Guardiola's side know how to turn it on.

At the City Ground, they were not at their best against an aggressive and fired up Nottingham Forest who are battling relegation.

But goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland sealed the three points and ensured the Premier League title remains City's to lose as they sit one point off league-leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

City fans will be pleased to see Haaland on the score sheet after a two-game absence from the squad through injury.

Guardiola was without Phil Foden and Ruben Dias for the trip to Nottingham with both suffering with illness.

And there was further concern when goalkeeper Ederson had to be substituted at half-time after a clash with Willy Boly and the Brazilian left the City Ground with his left arm in a sling.

But their experience at this point in the season ultimately shone through and the title remains in their hands.

If both they and Arsenal keep winning, and City take advantage of their game in hand, then Guardiola's team will take the title by two points, securing a record fourth consecutive trophy.

Here are the key facts and figures following Sunday’s game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in the Premier League.

• Manchester City have won eight of their last nine Premier League away games (D1) and have now won more games on their travels this season in the competition (12) than they managed in the whole of last season (11).

• After winning two of their first three Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo (L1), Nottingham Forest have since won just two of their past 15 games in the competition (D4 L9). The Reds have now suffered more league defeats this season (19) than in the whole of last season (18).

• Nottingham Forest have conceded 23 Premier League goals from set pieces, excluding penalties, this season. In the competition's history, only Fulham in 2013-14 (28), Tottenham in 2007-08 (26) and West Brom in 2010-11 (24) have ever shipped more set piece goals in a single campaign.

• Since the start of last season, Kevin De Bruyne has assisted Erling Haaland 11 times in the Premier League, which is at least three more than any other player has assisted a single teammate in this time.

• After not scoring in any of his first 32 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions, Josko Gvardiol has since scored three goals in his past five appearances for the club.

• Pep Guardiola oversaw his 300th Premier League game in charge of Manchester City, making him only the fifth manager to take charge of that many games with a single club in the competition, after Arsene Wenger (828 with Arsenal), Alex Ferguson (810 with Manchester United), David Moyes (427 with Everton) and Jurgen Klopp (331 with Liverpool).

Erling Haaland marked his return with a goal as Manchester City kept up the pressure on leaders Arsenal with victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Norwegian striker missed two games through injury but came off the bench in the 62nd minute at the City Ground.

He slotted into the left corner nine minutes later to wrap up the points and keep City a point behind Arsenal, the Premier League front-runners.

City went ahead 32 minutes in as Josko Gvardiol scored with a powerful near-post header from Kevin de Bruyne's in-swinging corner.

That came while Forest's Neco Williams was off the pitch receiving treatment for an injury, which he subsequently had to go off for.

Pep Guardiola's City have a game in hand over Arsenal, but may still need to win all of their games between now and the end of the season to secure a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.

This was a far from comfortable afternoon for the visitors as Forest disrupted their flow and created a number of good opportunities.

Based on this performance, it is hard to believe Nuno Espirito Santo's side are in a relegation fight, but they remain just one point above the drop zone.

After a tumultuous time off the pitch, in which they have criticised refereeing standards, this was a determined display from Forest, but they ultimately paid the price for missed chances.

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Three matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

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Listen to all three games on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth v Brighton - from 14:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Arsenal - from 14:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - from 16:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live