Nottingham Forest missed an opportunity to make a strong statement in the Premier League as Manchester City provided a harsh reality check at the Etihad Stadium. Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne put City two goals ahead within the first 32 minutes, with Jeremy Doku adding a stunning counter-attacking goal in the second half. Despite this, Forest did pose some challenges, and De Bruyne even acknowledged their unexpected approach in the match. Forest managed to handle the threat City posed much better than in their previous visits to the Etihad, where they had struggled significantly.
An intriguing moment occurred during the halftime interval, where Forest’s captain, Ryan Yates, was substituted. This raised questions, leading Nuno Espirito Santo to address the decision after the game. Espirito Santo is not one to shy away from making bold decisions, and his choice to substitute Yates was one that not all might have agreed with. Yates, often defended for being an academy product, did not perform well against City. While City were scoring their second goal, Yates appeared to flop on the ground after an unsuccessful tackle attempt on Doku, seemingly attempting to win a free-kick.
This behavior has become a concern for Yates, as he is a much more effective player when he focuses on his strengths, such as pressuring opponents and winning the ball back, rather than trying to draw fouls. On being asked about the substitution, Espirito Santo responded briefly, calling it a “tactical decision,” adding that Yates was “OK.”
Given this performance, it seems vital for Yates to regain confidence in his abilities and avoid distractions like attempting to influence refereeing decisions. His substitution was justified, and he now faces uncertainty about whether he will keep his spot for Forest’s upcoming match against Manchester United.