THE NOTEBOOK: Kyle Walker files complaint ahead of Man City win as refereeing animosity hangover after Forest statement – as home fans protest rising ticket prices

Manchester City maintained their Premier League title position after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 to move just one point behind current leaders Arsenal.

Erling Haaland marked his return to action with a second-half goal to wrap up City’s victory and ensure their fate remains in their own hands.

Haaland coolly slipped into the bottom corner shortly after coming on while Josko Gvardiol made the breakthrough after nodding in Kevin De Bruyne’s corner.

City have a game in hand against Arsenal and had to work hard for their victory on the banks of the River Trent, with Forest squandering several golden openings.

Here, Sports Mail‘s JACK GAUGHAN brings you some of the stories you may have missed from the City Ground…

Manchester City maintained their Premier League title position after beating Nottingham Forest

Erling Haaland marked his comeback with a goal as City moved just a point behind leaders Arsenal.

WALKER’S PITCH COMPLAINT

Nottingham Forest undoubtedly made life difficult for Manchester City – and the visiting captain had a theory about how he wanted to take the lead before a ball was kicked.

Kyle Walker was seen making a complaint to the Premier League match director on the pitch, in what appears to be a grievance over the condition of the surface.

Walker’s fears were that the grass was too dry – City are better when the pitches are slippery – and they certainly struggled to maintain early possession. But Forest had clearly done nothing wrong.

Kyle Walker filed a field complaint with officials before a ball was even kicked

THE FURRY OF THE FORESTS ON PRICES

The furor over season ticket prices has affected almost every Premier League club in recent weeks and Forest are no different. Their Supporters’ Trust has slammed the decision to increase prices by up to 28 per cent in certain areas of the City Ground.

Forest held meetings with supporters groups last week ahead of their first home game since the announcement, while ‘Forza Garibaldi’ decided not to hold their usual pre-match presentation at Trent End in a sign of protest. The only (small) banner at this end read “Premier League, for the few, not for the many”, in reference to the general discontent at the club.

THE refereeing hangover

It took 16 minutes for the home game to be marred by refereeing corruption after Simon Hooper saved a penalty when Ederson collided with Willy Boly. This quickly turned into an adventure that Hooper didn’t know what he was doing when he blew for a foul on Jack Grealish.

That animosity was a hangover from the controversy surrounding Stuart Attwell at Everton – and that statement from Forest – with the club devoting a large paragraph in their Goodison Park program’s ‘match report’ to Anthony Taylor’s performance.

Referee Simon Hooper targeted with corruption chants after fending off penalty shout

THE LEGACY OF PEP

Who would have thought Pep Guardiola would reach this milestone when he arrived fresh and fit eight years ago?

There are now 300 Premier League matches remaining for the Catalan (221 wins) – and only the fifth manager to achieve this feat with a single club. Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, David Moyes and Jurgen Klopp complete the list.

This was only supposed to be a three-year stint for Guardiola and it makes you think about how this level of success could possibly be replicated once he is gone.

KEY STONES FOR THE COUNTRY

Gareth Southgate will currently be taking a close interest in John Stones. The centre-back has made just 21 starts this season (12 in the league) and given his importance to Guardiola, any move to the bench can only be down to fitness.

While it’s not an exact science, City’s winning percentage with him is 81 per cent and more than 10 per cent lower when he doesn’t start. It paints a picture and England need him fit.

John Stones has made just 21 starts for City this season, but England need him fully fit