Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday to reach their third successive FA Cup final, with goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol keeping alive City's hopes of avoiding a rare trophyless season.

Lewis opened the scoring after just two minutes when he was found by the influential Mateo Kovacic and given time and space to fire into the bottom corner to silence the Forest supporters.

Conceding an early goal was certainly not part of the game plan for Forest, who struggled to find their feet in the first half, finishing with just 25% of the possession and no shots on target.

The half-time introduction of Anthony Elanga almost turned the game around for Forest, but his first touch on 46 minutes failed to connect with Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross.

City made amends five minutes later when Gvardiol rose highest to head home Omar Marmoush's corner for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Forest, bidding to reach their first FA Cup final since 1991, came close when Morgan Gibbs-White volleyed over after City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had been beaten.

Gibbs-White struck the post again 20 minutes from time after Gvardiol was caught in possession, beat Ortega but could not finish from a tight angle.

Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi also hit the woodwork before Gibbs-White's follow-up header was saved by Ortega as the Forest fans began to feel it was not their day.

City then ran out comfortable winners in a record seventh successive FA Cup semi-final to set up a meeting with Crystal Palace, who beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, in the final on 17 May.