Guardiola back in familiar surroundings & City also look more like old selves

IN one of his second homes, Pep Guardiola looked a little more relaxed than usual, pacing the technical area with relatively quiet authority.

- BY ANDY DUNN

He knows his side are still some way from their compelling, irresistible best - but they are getting there.

A good number of Manchester City fans did not turn up but their team certainly did. And while Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo can certainly claim they did not have the rub of the green, the fact is that City with Mateo Kovacic the outstanding individual - were just a bit too good for them.

Guardiola's men have now assembled an eight-game unbeaten run, are in pole position to secure a Champions League spot and are strong favourites to beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final.

For Forest, this was bitter disappointment. Their narrative has been one of the feelgood stories of the season but their style of play is not always easy on the eye.

At times, it looks like they really are not too interested in winning possession and that is how it seemed for much of this contest.