Forest took a two-goal lead thanks to strikes within five minutes of each other in the first half. There was a marked improvement from the Blues after the break, with George Evans pulling one back, but overall the home side deserved the win that sadly ended the Under 18 side’s interest in this season’s FA Youth Cup.
City showed four changes from the side that started what turned out to be an 11-goal thriller in the previous round at Oldham. Out went keeper Karius, Coulson, Drury and Robinson, in came Lawlor between the sticks, Kim Skogsrud, Rusnak and Roman.
Scott Sellars had tried to address the defensive frailties from Boundary Park by changing the goalkeeper and shuffling the back four, but sadly those frailties resurfaced after just 12 minutes. Meppen-Walter gave away a free kick and from the set-piece Byrne’s header tore past Lawlor.
It did not stay that way too long, and the home side doubled the lead five minutes later, Byrne muscling his way through to poke it home at the near post.
City were shell-shocked and struggled to get a foothold. Bunn worked tirelessly and Alex Henshall posed problems down the left but Forest custodian Gathercole was barely tested in the first half.
Meadows should have finished it for Forest just after the resumption, cutting through the defence from the right to roll the ball just wide from a tight angle. City’s first real chance did not come until the hour mark, when Meppen-Walter nodded a Henshall corner over.
But the young Blues finally got into the game with 20 minutes to go, when the home defence failed to cope with another probing corner from Henshall, George Evans drilling the ball home from close range
The goal seemed to lift both sides, and it was only last-ditch stuff from Courtney Meppen-Walter that prevented Forest from sealing the deal with 83 on the clock.
The dying seconds saw City screaming for a penalty after a Forest hand touched the ball in the area but the referee did not blow for the penalty that should have been given. Lawlor made a fine save from Bamford in the last minute of the 90, but City pressure in stoppage time at a series of corners came to nothing and the young Blues were out.
Manchester City's Wayne Bridge joins West Ham on six-month loan
• Thirty-year-old out of favour at Eastlands
• Bridge watched Carling Cup win over Birmingham
West Ham United have confirmed the signing of the Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge on loan until the end of the season. The 30-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at Eastlands since the arrival of Aleksandar Kolarov and Jérôme Boateng in the summer.
"It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in the Premier League," Bridge told the club's website. "It would be a big achievement."
Bridge watched from the stands at Upton Park last night when Avram Grant was forced to switch Matthew Upson to left-back as the Hammers beat Birmingham 2-1 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
It has been a problem position in a difficult season for West Ham. They are bottom of the table following a 5-0 drubbing by Newcastle in their last Premier League game.
Despite that, Bridge had no doubt about making the move south. "I know a few of the players from England and I know the physio," Bridge said. "I spoke to Scotty Parker and a few people and they told me what a great club it is. That definitely helped me make the decision to come here.
"There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move up the table. The first half on Tuesday was great. There should have been a few more goals and then the team came back with 10 men. If we can play like that every week we'll be fine."
Balotelli blow hits City
Striker must rest injured knee for four weeks
It is the same knee and I am worried because it is strange that he had an operation and now, after two months back, he has another problem with it. Roberto Mancini.
Quotes of the week
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been ordered to rest his injured knee for the next month and could require further surgery.
Roberto Mancini has admitted that the injury to the club's summer signing from Inter Milan is causing him a significant amount of concern.
The 20-year-old has already missed a significant chunk of the season after going under the knife when he damaged his knee on his debut against Timisoara.
Balotelli has not been seen since scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa on 28th December and now Mancini has revealed the controversial front-man has suffered a recurrence of the problem.
City's medical staff have advised Balotelli to rest for four weeks and then resume training, in the belief that will rectify the problem, but Mancini is not happy at the situation.
"Mario's knee is not good," Mancini said. "I don't know [about surgery] at this moment but he must rest for three to four weeks.
"He will have rest and treatment and then he will start [training] again and hopefully everything will be OK.
"But it is the same knee and I am worried because it is strange that he had an operation and now, after two months back, he has another problem with it.
"I am worried because I never expected him to have to rest for another four weeks, especially at such an important time in the season when we must play so many important games."
Real Zaragoza join the chase to clinch signature of Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz
Real Zaragoza have jumped into the race for Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz.
The Paraguayan striker is in talks with Lazio about a £3million move to Italy after rejecting a loan move while Blackburn are also keen.
Zaragoza also want Santa Cruz’s international teammate Sunderland defender Paulo da Silva.
Manchester City's Michael Johnson considers loan move
Johnson has made just 37 appearances for City in four years
Michael Johnson concedes he may need to go out on loan as he makes his comeback from a long-term injury.
The Manchester City midfielder has been out for 13 months with a knee problem, but played for the reserves on Tuesday.
Johnson told the Manchester City website:"Going out somewhere for the rest of the season and getting match fit might be a better option."
He last played for City in a Carling Cup win over Scunthorpe United in 2009.
The 22-year-old, who is a product of City's youth academy, has been blighted by injury. He was unable to play for a year from September 2008 because of an abdominal problem.
He then managed just two games for the first team on his return, coming on as an 89th minute substitute against West Ham United on 28 September 2009 and then scoring in the 5-1 win over Scunthorpe a month later before suffering cruciate ligament damage in training.
However, Johnson was pleased to have managed 45 minutes in the 4-0 EDS Senior Cup win against Rochdale. "It was good to be out there. It has been too long as it has been over a year since my last game." he said. "I felt good, although a bit rusty at times. Fitness wise, I am there or thereabouts."
However, City is a much-changed club since Johnson made his debut against Wigan in 2006. Sheikh Mansour's millions have brought a wealth of midfield talent to Eastlands.
Johnson is realistic about his chances of securing first-team football at City.
"We have a lot of world-class players. That is why we are second in the league. It is better for me to go and get games now."
Newspaper reports have linked the England under-21 international with possible loan spells at Leeds United, Leicester City and Wolves.
City manager Roberto Mancini recently told the City website that he believes a loan spell can help develop a player's career.
WAG OF THE DAY - Amaia Salamanca
Salamanca is one of Sergio Ramos' exes, and shockingly happens to be a model and actress.
She is best known for appearing in a Spanish TV series called Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso. The title means "Without Tits There Is No Paradise." I can't make this stuff up.
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool have joined Arsenal in the race to sign £10m-rated Southampton teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Daily Mirror
Genoa are keen to sign Wigan's Argentine striker Mauro Boselli, who has scored only once for the Latics since they broke their club record to bring him to the DW Stadium in a £6m summer move from Estudiantes. The Sun
Manchester United are lining up a bid for Lyon's Brazilian wing back Michel Bastos. caughtoffside.com
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has made a £4m bid for West Ham midfielder Mark Noble and is also keen on Hammers striker Carlton Cole. Daily Mirror
West Ham are poised to make a move for Udinese striker Antonio Floro Flores, who is keen to leave the Italian club. talkSPORT
Bolton are hoping to finalise a deal to sign Argentine defender Santiago Gentiletti from Argentinos Juniors. talkSPORT
Chelsea will make a renewed attempt to sign 20-year-old Lyon midfielder Miralem Pjanic, who they see as the perfect long-term replacement for Frank Lampard. caughtoffside.com
Aston Villa are interested in Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko but the Russian striker is expected to sign a new contract at White Hart Lane. Daily Mail
Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson has pulled off a major coup by persuading Everton striker Yakubu to join the club on loan. Daily Mirror
Everton have bluntly told Tottenham that veteran midfielder Phil Neville is going nowhere, despite Spurs' willingness to pay up to £2m for the 34-year-old. Daily Mirror
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is aiming to bring in at least one of his three top targets this month - Gary Cahill, Per Mertesacker or Emir Spahic - after Thomas Vermaelen suffered another setback in his recovery from an Achilles injury.metro.co.uk
AC Milan look set to scupper Tottenham and Manchester City's moves for Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel by taking the Dutch international to Italy. Daily Mirror
England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce will be asked to manage the Great Britain football team at the 2012 London Olympics, rather than Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Daily Mirror
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed the rush of managerial sackings on foreign club owners. "I don't think they have the patience of older generations," he said. Daily Telegraph
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is determined to make up for what has been an injury-ravaged season so far by scoring the goals to help the club win major silverware. talkSPORT
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Ipswich on Wednesday that he is feeling the pressure of having to win a trophy after six years without silverware. Daily Mirror
Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky says he began to study physiotherapy during his 18-month absence with a knee injury in an effort to sort out his own problems. the Sun
Chelsea captain John Terry concedes his side's recent poor form has been "unacceptable" and they have to think about winning games before they can think about winning trophies. Daily Star
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway says Liverpool caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish was "the skeleton in the closet" who meant former Reds boss Roy Hodgson never stood a chance of success at Anfield. Daily Express
Celtic hope Georgios Samaras will stay at Parkhead, despite the striker turning down a 12-month contract offer because he wants a longer deal. Independent
