Forest's FA Cup adventure ends at the semi-final stage

Nottingham Forest’s Emirates FA Cup journey came to an end at the semi-final stage against Manchester City at Wembley.

Rico Lewis opened the scoring for City in the first half before Joško Gvardiol’s second half header doubled their lead on an afternoon when the Reds struck the woodwork three times.

Despite the cup run coming to an end, Forest have enjoyed a fine journey in the competition, battling to three penalty shoot-out wins and pushing Pep Guardiola’s side all the way at the national stadium in front of 35,000 loud and proud Reds.

City opened the scoring with two minutes on the clock when Lewis’ fizzing effort from the edge of the Forest box beat Matz Sels.

The Citizens enjoyed possession in the Forest half but as time progressed, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side grew into the game, enjoying more play in the City half of play.

Guardiola's team continued to enjoy possession without threatening Sels’ goal any further but as the half time whistle sounded there remained plenty to play for in the second half.

Half time: Forest 0-1 Manchester City

Anthony Elanga replaced Danilo at the break and almost levelled the scores 52 seconds later when the winger fired Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross just wide of goal.

Five minutes later and Sels’ quickfire double save denied Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovačić’s deflected follow-up after denying Lewis moments earlier.

From the resulting corner, City doubled their lead when Gvardiol headed in for their second of the game.

Just after the hour mark, Sels did well to deny Omar Marmoush from a tight angle, tipping the ball over the bar.

Forest almost grabbed a foothold in the game when Elanga’s cross found Morgan Gibbs-White in space, only for the Reds’ no. 10’s thundering volley to come crashing back off the crossbar.

Minutes later, Gibbs-White struck the woodwork for the second time after pouncing on an under hit back pass, rounding Stefan Ortega striking the ball against the post from an acute angle.

With Nuno’s side still in the hunt for a way back into the contest, Hudson-Odoi's effort on goal was blocked into the path of substitute Taiwo Awoniyi who stuck the post with a first-time. Gibbs-White's headed effort from a resulting cross was kept out acrobatically by the City ‘keeper.

Forest continued to search for a way back into the contest late on, but alas it was Man City who progressed in the competition.

The Reds’ attentions turn to the Premier League run-in with five games still to be played.

Full time: Forest 0-2 Manchester City