Nottingham Forest’s fans poured down to Wembley on a tide of red and white hope but left only with regret. Many of Manchester City’s, meanwhile, stayed home and waited for the chance to come back for the game that really matters to them, the final.
That they got their wish was not a surprise but goes no way to telling the story of this remarkable game. Nor, for that matter, does the scoreline.
Forest were wretched during a first half during which they played hardly a noticeable part. Behind to a Rico Lewis goal in only the second minute, Nuno Espirito Santos’ side were outclassed, out passed and, surprisingly, outrun by a City team that was excellent in every way.