FA Cup - Forest hammer Man City at Eastlands

Eurosport - Sun, 04 Jan 10:38:00 2009

The future of Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is under threat again after his side were beaten 3-0 at home by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 FA Cup third round - Nottingham Forest's players celebrate their side's third goal against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium - 0

City's Abu Dhabi-based backers have resolutely stuck by their manager throughout this season's struggles, but their faith will be further tested after Hughes's side capitulated against Forest.

The former European champions' own dismal form this term has seen Billy Davies agree to take over as boss on Monday; he watched as temporary boss John Pemberton masterminded the win thanks to goals from Nathan Tyson, Robert Earnshaw and Joe Garner.

Garner's second-half strike was the cue for City supporters to stream out of the stadium, hurling abuse at Hughes as they went.

Forest might have been ahead before the breakthrough eventually came late in the first half, but headers from Lewis McGugan, Matt Thornhill and Ian Breckin all flew narrowly wide.

After a sluggish start City also had chances, with Paul Smith making superb saves to deny Felipe Caicedo and Daniel Sturridge, paired together in attack while Robinho was rested.

The hosts' cause was not helped by the loss of Shaun Wright-Phillips to a hamstring injury after just 18 minutes.

With the clock ticking down towards half-time a long ball was lofted into the City box, where Micah Richards headed away; Tyson met it with a dipping first-time volley that gave Joe Hart no chance.

The hosts were still clearing their heads when Forest doubled their lead.

Pablo Zabaleta was robbed easily by Chris Cohen close to the touchline, setting the Forest man haring into the box where he found Thornhill with a precise cross.

The midfielder's shot was hopelessly off target, but Earnshaw coolly steered it into the corner.

In the second half Caicedo twice forced Smith into fine saves, but without Wright-Phillips, there was no spark from the hosts.

Garner completed the rout 15 minutes from time, scoring low past Hart after Dietmar Hamann had thrown him the ball from the touchline.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  1. Lets be honest City were on the slide in the second­ half of last season,Dunne and Richards are very much­ over rated coupled with the Brazilian lazy gits.You­ City supporters are the most fickle supporters in the­ land,don't blame Hughes for the mess,the club's­ been a shambles for years.

    From ARTHUR R, on Sat 3 Jan 11:43PM

  2. First time my dad had ever left before the end of the­ game (40 years) and the first time i've left before­ the end of the game (6 years).

    From JohnH, on Sat 3 Jan 11:37PM

  3. First time my dad had ever left before the end of the­ game (40 years) and the first time i've left before­ the end of the game (6 years).

    From JohnH, on Sat 3 Jan 11:37PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    M.C.F.C FUTURE IS NOT BLEAK, FAR FROM IT, IT HAS NO­ FUTURE AND NEVER HAS HAHAHAHAHAHA

    From ayup, on Sat 3 Jan 11:36PM

  5. i have been with city for 39 years and think i have­ never been so disapointed as today.going out of the­ best competion in the world there is no­ excuse.........sort yourself out city

    From kev, on Sat 3 Jan 11:05PM

  6. ive been a city fan for over 40yrs and followd them­ through thick and thin, when they are good they are­ good but when they are bad they are very bad. I agree­ with others on here that its not hughes fault but i­ would love to see good old Stuart Pearce come back he­ has a passion for the game and possibly what city need­ at the moment

    From nmginn, on Sat 3 Jan 10:20PM

  7. Look on the bright side we can concentrate on league­ now, until we get going in UEFA Cup again. NO FIXTURE­ CONGESTION FOR US ! Plus we don`t have to worry about­ any of new players being cup-tied, but if you was a top­ class player, would you want to join City

    From aush99, on Sat 3 Jan 9:58PM

  8. Why didn't Hughes take a leaf out of Phil­ Brown's book and keep the underperforming­ uncommitted overpaid primadonnas out on the pitch at­ half time? Or was he equally embarassed by his own­ brainless tactics on the pitch in the previous 45­ minutes?

    From Chas C, on Sat 3 Jan 9:49PM

  9. it cost me £27.50p two go and whach city hove ho hi­ love till the day hi die wen will thay get it­ rite?'thay play well one game and loose the nest­ sed this the times be fore its not the manegr its the­ plaers at falt.

    From mick.hatton, on Sat 3 Jan 9:43PM

  10. david s (sat 3. 9.11pm)u should be able to write better­ english since u boast of being one. dont 4get there is­ no need to be proud of being english when u r­ uneducated. improve ur literacy skills to be recognised­ as somebody. (words of wisdom) From Matso

    From martinmuzinda, on Sat 3 Jan 9:43PM

  11. W,T,F,K, INCE FIRST !!!! IS HUGHES GONNA BE SECOND­ ?????? OR IS IT THE MAN CITY SUPPORTERS

    From mcpluker, on Sat 3 Jan 9:41PM

  12. What a performance,come on you reds!!!!!!

    Next round­ Liverpool please.........

    From lwardle10, on Sat 3 Jan 9:27PM

  13. city need to get thier act together, yes, when we­ perform, we perform well yet when we don't come up­ with the goods we are sluggish and completely­ passionless, i was at the game and praise to Pablo­ Zabaleta, Daniel Sturridge and Jo, of which does not­ deserver any slating what-so-ever as he just needs­ confidence, respect where it's due to 'Forest­ who played very well, just shows that ugly football is­ a 'giant killer'.

    From dagnalld, on Sat 3 Jan 9:27PM

  14. If Man City are serious about winning something in the­ near future then i dont think Mark Hughes is the right­ man.He was able to sustain Blackburn in mid table with­ negative robust football, that is no good achivement to­ qualify him for the managerial position at a bigger and­ ambitious club.Sacking Sven was a big mistake after­ what he achieved last year.

    From valach, on Sat 3 Jan 9:27PM

  15. It would not be Man City if they did not give us a­ roller coaster but we love the blues win or lose.­ Tomorrow's another day and the return of the Bell,­ Lee and Summerbee era is just around the corner. Give­ Hughes time please. City fan for over forty years.

    From peterhminchin, on Sat 3 Jan 9:25PM

  16. this team dont want to play well for city cos they know­ there going when the months out but lets not have­ childish comments from forest fans.youve been down­ there like city have.remember where you were under­ cloughy.you did well today and deserved to go through­ well done you showd fighting spirit unlike city

    From jones.stephen34, on Sat 3 Jan 9:24PM

  17. just cant understand why the fans took it out on Mark­ Hughes when it was the players showed no commitment

    From oli, on Sat 3 Jan 9:16PM

  18. who are we........RED ARMY!!!!!
    who are we........RED­ ARMY!!!!!
    who are we........RED­ ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From carl, on Sat 3 Jan 9:15PM

  19. What a shower you need some English blood and guts not­ fancy dans who think they know it all. It's the­ wages not the shirt that this shower play for and­ always will. Championship football next year Bridge­ must have had a get out clause inserted for the summer­ move him and the others will want.

    Free fall City i­ hope and No i'm not a utd fan.

    From David S, on Sat 3 Jan 9:11PM

  20. Man City needs to worry about one thing right now and­ that's defense! We have already seen what the­ midfield and offense can do, but the defense is the­ problem!

    I recommend to spend as much money to fixing­ the defense before touching mid and offense!

    And a new­ coach would be better! :p if not just look at wigan!­ They are doing great cause they have a good coach with­ a descent team!

    From TeenBaby77515, on Sat 3 Jan 9:05PM
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