EVERY cloud has a Silva lining.
There have been plenty of very dark ones gathering over Manchester City over the past six weeks.
EPAManchester City got back to winning ways against Nottingham Forest with a 2-0 win[/caption]
REXBernardo Silva opened the scoring early in the first half[/caption]
EPAKevin De Bruyne doubled City’s lead on the half-hour mark[/caption]
GETTYUnder-pressure Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his relief[/caption]
Six defeats in seven extraordinary matches had seen the wheels well and truly come off Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut.
Amid it all, there have been plenty of critics forecasting that this is the end of City’s era of dominance.
But one of Pep’s stalwarts Bernardo Silva lifted some of the gloom by putting them ahead inside eight minutes here.
And by the end, there were clear signs that brighter days could still be ahead for the four-in-row champs.
Kevin De Bruyne took centre stage on his first start in almost three months – setting up that opening goal for his fellow midfielder.
He also scored one himself and looked like he had never been away as he ran the show for almost 75 minutes before taking the applause from his adoring fans.
In some ways it felt like normal service was resumed at the Etihad – but don’t believe it just yet.
City gave Forest far more chances than their manager would have liked – and the visitors should have taken at least one of them.
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But at least this performance and result will have given their rivals – many of whom have delighted in the demise of the champions – something to think about.
After four straight defeats in the Prem – which had left them 11 points off leaders Liverpool – their first priority was to stop that disastrous run.
And with De Bruyne around, there is just a different feel to this team.
He may not have started a game since mid-September but he didn’t take long to get back to doing what he does best – just eight minutes in fact.
Ilkay Gundogan’s cross to the back post was nodded across goal by KDB and there was Bernardo to turn it in from close range.
It was the Portuguese midfielder’s first league goal since January and just what was needed to calm the nerves.
The home fans have not lost their sense of humour amid their recent slump and some of them chanted ‘City’s staying up’ as the gloom lifted.
They had a chance to add a second soon afterwards as Bernardo’s cross was nodded wide by an unmarked Josko Gvardiol.
The Croatian defender was axed for the trip to Anfield on Saturday after a horror show against Feyenoord.
And he almost dropped his team in it again as he lost a duel with Jota Silva on the wing but Stefan Ortega bailed him out – saving superbly from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Then Gvardiol found himself clean through as he raced onto a pass from Erling Haaland but dragged his shot inches wide.
De Bruyne seemed to be enjoying his return and thumped a low shot that Matz Sels but drifted wide of the far post.
The Belgian had been bossing proceedings for the opening half an hour – but then came a sign of rustiness.
His pass back caught Ruben Dias flat-footed and Chris Wood went clean through – only to place his shot wide.
As if to make up for it though he doubled City’s lead less than a minute later.
His countryman Jeremy Doku made it for him, jinking his way into the box before rolling it back to KDB who thumped a rising shot past Sels.
It looked like he took all the frustration of the last few months out on that shot as he scored for the first time since August.
GETTYJermer Doku bagged Manchester City’s third goal of match in the 57th minute[/caption]
PAPep Guardiola gave the returning Kevin De Bruyne a big embrace during the match[/caption]
Pep Guardiola ridiculed claims from Sky pundits that there was a problem between him and De Bruyne – by insisting he was ‘desperate’ to get him back.
And no wonder. Even at 33 he still has the quality to turn City’s season around.
You could sense the relief around the Etihad – but nobody was getting carried away.
They all remember what happened against Feyenoord eight days ago when a three-goal lead was chucked away in 15 minutes of madness.
And their team were still offering the visitors chances – with Anthony Elanga curling a shot wide and Alex Moreno seeing a shot superbly blocked by Jack Grealish.
There were more openings for Forest after the break with Murillo’s thumping shot just clearing the angle.
But just before the hour, City extended their lead with Haaland turning provider as he turned in the centre circle and sent Doku racing clear.
The Norwegian was screaming for a return pass but the winger cut in and bent a beauty around Sels from 15 yards.
Despite what happened here against Feyenoord, Forest seemed to know the game was up.
And City looked to extend their lead with De Bruyne’s cheeky free-kick going just the wrong side of the post with the keeper motionless.
The Belgian playmaker then linked up with Grealish and saw a deflected effort turned around the post by Sels.
His work was done though and when he was replaced by Rico Lewis with 17 minutes remaining, he fully deserved his ovation.