Match Review: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester United

United saw off Nottingham Forest once again with a comfortable victory but with injuries piling up, ten Hag will need to consider more rotations ahead of Brighton's weekend semi final clash at Wembley.

United's problems began before kick off today as their goalscoring midfielder, Marcel Sabitzer, whom was set to start was forced out of the squad during the warm up with a potential groin injury. Christian Eriksen came in for his place with Nathan Bishop joining the bench.

The away side started the same as they did versus Sevilla midweek as Jadon Sancho had an opportunity to put his side in the lead within the first minute but former Atletico Madrid centre half Felipe made a last gasp block in-front of his goal-line to prevent the Englishman taking the lead.

With Maguire already being suspended for next weekend's trip to Wembley & after his unfortunate own goal at the death against Sevilla he would've been hoping for a brighter start to the game today.

The club captain was instantly rolled by Awoniyi & within the first two minutes already found himself in the referees book. It seemed every time he got involved in the play another mistake followed with a calamity of errors continuously piling up.

Forest put immense pressure on United's backline & De Gea especially in which was a throwback to the Spaniard's first few years in the Premier League. Gibbs-White whipped the crosses on top of the goalkeeper as the home side found success each time, clipping the bar as a result.

However it was the away side who finally made the breakthrough as Martial won the ball back for his side and played a quick one-two with Bruno Fernandes. The Frenchman saw his save parried but only into the path of Antony who was quickest to react at the back-post ahead of Renan Lodi.

Bruno & Eriksen bossed the entire first half, dictating the tempo of the game & finding acres of space throughout & creating a multitude of chances.

It was the Portuguese who was having the best of the home side in the second half having some great efforts from the edge of the box. United were able to pass at will around the forest defence & if it wasn't for the experience of Keylor Navas in goal, it could have been out of sight early on.

It was Martial again who had the biggest chance of the second half. Casemiro whipped a brilliant ball into the box as the Frenchman rose highest but from 5 yards out he really should've scored. 

It was incidentally his last involvement before being replaced by Wout Weghorst.

Dalot sealed the contest scoring his first Premier League goal & getting United's second. Antony danced through the Forest defence & patiently waited for Dalot's inside run from his inverted full back role before he calmly lifted it over the outrushing Navas.

With a proper striker next season you can see the multitude of chances created by Bruno & Erisken etc to finally be finished off by a prolific striker of Harry Kane's quality for example.

Player Ratings

David De Gea - 6

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7

Harry Maguire - 5.5

Victor Lindelöf - 7

Diogo Dalot - 7

Casemiro - 6.5

Christian Eriksen- 8

Antony - 7.5

Bruno Fernandes - 8

Jadon Sancho - 6

Anthony Martial - 6.5

Substitutes: Jack Butland - N/A, Marc Jurado- N/A, Brandon Williams - N/A, Nathan Bishop - N/A, Fred - 6, Facundo Pellistri - N/A, Wout Weghorst - 6, Anthony Elanga - N/A, Zidane Iqbal -N/A

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