Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Review
Nottingham Forest achieved their first-ever Premier League double over Manchester United with a 1-0 victory at the City Ground, leaving Ruben Amorim’s team still searching for consecutive league wins this season. Bruno Fernandes had the first chance of the match, but his long-range shot was saved by Matz Sels. However, it was Forest who took the lead following a corner for United, thanks to a stunning solo counterattack by Anthony Elanga. The former Manchester United winger seized the loose ball from Ryan Yates’ headed clearance and made an impressive run down the field, finishing with a precise left-footed shot past André Onana.
Ruben Amorim’s team responded effectively, as Casemiro missed a header from a corner taken by Fernandes. Fernandes was a constant threat to the Forest defense with his corner kicks and set up his fellow Portuguese player Diogo Dalot, whose header hit the crossbar. Besides Elanga’s impressive opening goal, the Tricky Trees struggled to create further chances and suffered a setback when Ola Aina had to leave the game due to injury before halftime.
The match continued at a high tempo after the break, with Morgan Gibbs-White sending a shot over the bar after Alejandro Garnacho lost the ball in his own half. Garnacho then tried to make an impact at the other end, but his long-range shot went just wide, and a promising attempt was blocked by Yates. United displayed some excellent football but lacked the precision needed to penetrate a seemingly solid Forest defense, leaving Sels relatively unchallenged in goal. The Belgian made a straightforward save to gather Patrick Dorgu’s header, with Fernandes creating yet another opportunity for the visitors.
Mason Mount made his first appearance since mid-December and nearly marked his return with a goal, as his curling shot went just inches past the post. Another substitute, Harry Maguire, headed the ball wide from Dorgu’s cross and later had a late attempt cleared off the line by Murillo. Despite the pressure, Forest managed to secure a hard-fought victory, extending their unbeaten home league streak to nine games and solidifying their hold on third place. On the other hand, United faced back-to-back away league losses to Forest for the first time since 1990 and currently sit in 13th place.
