Manchester City defeated relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Sunday to move within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal and keep the title battle in their own hands.
Mikel Arteta’s club had put down the gauntlet earlier in the day, holding off a Tottenham comeback to win 3-2 and momentarily pulling four points ahead of City.
However, the champions, who are chasing a record fourth consecutive English top-flight crown, defeated a spirited Forest, thanks to goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland in each half.
Forest, who are battling for their lives, will be disappointed with missed opportunities, especially two clear-cut ones for Chris Wood.
With four games remaining, City is the clear favourites to win another league title, one more than Arsenal.
Third-placed Liverpool are four points behind City having played a game more and are realistically out of the title picture.
Forest, last month docked four points for breaches of Premier League financial rules, remain just one point outside the relegation zone with three games to go.
Pep Guardiola’s City, who came into the match on the back of a 30-match unbeaten run in all competitions, did not have it all their own way at the City ground.
The home had a chance to take a shock lead in the opening seconds but Neco Williams failed to make clean contact from close range.
Forest looked dangerous when they came forward, with Nathan Ake forced to stretch to keep the ball off the toes of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
But City took the lead in the 32nd minute when Gvardiol powered home a Kevin De Bruyne corner at the near post.
Forest, undaunted, continued to test City but Wood missed a glorious chance to level from close range when found by substitute Gonzalo Montiel, getting his feet in a tangle.
Guardiola made two changes at half-time, bringing on goalkeeper Stefan Ortega for Ederson, who had a shoulder issue, and introducing Mateo Kovacic for Jeremy Doku.
Forest were quickly out of the traps but Wood again had a moment to forget after Antony Elanga skipped past Kyle Walker into the penalty box.
Elanga found the New Zealand international but he scuffed his shot and it was blocked easily.
City began to take more control as the second period wore on.
Haaland, who has been short of his razor-sharp best in recent weeks, came on for Jack Grealish shortly after the hour mark.
He eased City’s nerves minutes later, latching onto a De Bruyne through ball, evading Murillo before finding the net for his 21st Premier League goal of the season.