90’+5’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester United 2.90’+3’BookingHarry Maguire (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.90’+2’Post updateAttempt blocked. Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.90’+1’Post updateAttempt missed. Felipe (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Filip Krovinović with a cross following a corner.90’Post updateCorner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.89’Post updateAttempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.88’Post updateSubstitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.87’Post updateAttempt blocked. Filip Krovinović (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Lolley.86’Post updateAttempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Diogo Dalot.85’Post updateAttempt missed. Filip Krovinović (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Joe Lolley.
Manchester United moved up to third in the Premier League table with a clinical win over Nottingham Forest, who missed out on a chance to move out of the relegation zone. The Red Devils took the lead in the 32nd minute when Antony stabbed home after Forest keeper Keylor Navas had kept out Anthony Martial’s effort. The visitors then doubled their advantage 14 minutes from time when Antony played through Diogo Dalot who slotted in United’s second goal of the match.
Christian Eriksen was the true lynchpin for United, starting his first match since picking up an ankle injury in January, replacing Marcel Sabitzer who sustained a groin injury in the warm-up. Alongside Bruno Fernandes, Eriksen helped United dominate the first half with Jadon Sancho and Fernandes having early chances. After Antony’s opener only an inspired performance from Navas and some wasteful finishing kept Forest in the fixture.
The win puts United three points clear of fourth-placed Newcastle United and six points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, who have played a game more than the Red Devils. The victory was the perfect response to their disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Sevilla last time out and they will now face Sevilla in the second leg of that Europa League quarter-final on Thursday before taking on Brighton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Forest, who could have gone three points clear of the drop with a win, stay 17th, inside the bottom three on goal difference and boss Steve Cooper stressed his side need to quickly turn results around, with the East Midlands outfit now winless across their past 10 Premier League matches. They had chances in the first half with Taiwo Awoniyi seeing one effort blocked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and another fly off target from a strong position.
Forest also had a penalty shout in the 19th minute when an in-swinging corner struck the arm of United defender Harry Maguire, but the video assistant referee chose not to overturn referee Simon Hooper’s non-penalty decision. With United 1-0 in front, Felipe headed over from a corner in the 73rd minute, but in truth Forest always looked second best in front of their home supporters. They face Liverpool in their next match on Saturday where they will be desperately hoping to end their winless run.
Christian Eriksen was awarded player of the match for his performance with an average rating of 7.64, while Navas was Forest’s best player with an average rating of 7.46. The result sees Manchester United move up to third in the Premier League table, three points clear of fourth-placed Newcastle United and six points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, while Forest remain 17th inside the bottom three on goal difference.