Manchester United took their chance to close the gap to Premier League rivals Tottenham for the fourth spot in the table with a 3-0 win against visiting Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford tonight in the wake of Spurs’ 2-2 comeback draw yesterday against Brentford.
Goals from a particularly impressive Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Fred sealed a comfortable three points in front of home support for Erik ten Hag’s men who are now just one point adrift from Antonio Conte’s men while piling on historic pressure on a Forest side who has now surrendered over 30 goals against the Red Devils in the Premier League era.
✅ Three goals
✅ Three points
✅ Clean sheetThe perfect way to end 2022 at Old Trafford! 🙌 #MUFC || #MUNNFO pic.twitter.com/ATi5dPcC4K
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 27, 2022
The opening 19-odd-minutes of action at Old Trafford offered little by way of talking points as Steve Coopers Forest stoutly defended deep and well-organized, with the Red Devils struggling to make considerable gains on the pitch but a moment of magic from Marcus Rashford on a half-volley from 12-yards out bet Wayne Hennessey after Christian Eriksen’s direct corner found the England international in space to rip home his well-struck effort.
It was the goal that United needed to force the big-spending Forest out of their shell to chase a result that was now going to be even more difficult to find.
Ten Hag’s men made them pay just three minutes after their opener when Anthony Martial’s run at the top of the box was spotted by Rashford before his low effort could not be turned away by Hennessey’s poor attempt to parry, only for the Frenchman to watch his shot bounce into the far corner to double United’s advantage.
Forest nearly worked themselves back into proceedings when Ryan Yates headed home inside eight yards after getting away from Aaron Wan-Bissaka only for the goal to be reviewed by VAR and correctly judged to be offside after the header inadvertently deflected off defender Willy Bolly.
United continued to knock at the door passively but finally secured a third goal on the night at the Theatre of Dreams after Forest won the ball back in the defensive third but gave possession away cheaply to Casemiro before the Brazilian international found his compatriot with a delightful diagonal through ball for Fred to slot home past Hennessey to send the record English champions coasting to three points.
📰 Table Of Contents
Manchester United Player Ratings
- David de Gea (GK): 7
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB): 7
- Raphaël Varane (CB): 7
- Luke Shaw (CB):
- Tyrell Malacia (LB): 7
- Casemiro (CM): 8.5
- Christian Eriksen (CM): 7
- Bruno Fernandes (CAM): 7
- Antony (RW): 6
- Marcus Rashford (LW): 8.5
- Anthony Martial (CF): 7.5
- Donny van de Beek (Sub): 6
- Alejandro Garnacho (Sub): 6
- Fred (Sub): 7
- Harry Maguire (Sub): 6
- Anthony Elanga (Sub): 6
Nottingham Forest Player Ratings
- Wayne Hennessey (GK):
- Serge Aurier (RB):
- Joe Worrall (CB):
- Willy Boly (CB):
- Renan Lodi (LB): 6.5
- Remo Freuler (DM):
- Ryan Yates (CM):
- Orel Mangala (CM): 6
- Brennan Johnson (RW):
- Jesse Lingard (LW): 6
- Taiwo Awoniyi (CF): 6
- Lewis O’Brien (Sub): 6
- Sam Surridge (Sub): 6
- Harry Toffolo (Sub): 6.5
- Emmanuel Dennis (Sub): 6.5
- Neco Williams (Sub): 6
Social Media
#MUFC have one recognised centre-half starting. Varane starts. Maguire bench. #MUFC #MUNNFO pic.twitter.com/EuTulUCqD8
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 27, 2022
23 years on from one of the Premier League’s biggest away wins, the two sides meet again 👀#BBCFootball #MUNNFO pic.twitter.com/gRnqOLItFp
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 27, 2022
Jesse Lingard back at Old Trafford 👀
Michael Brown wouldn’t be surprised if he came back to haunt Man United 👻
Updates and reaction on @BBCSounds ⚽️#BBCFootball #MUNNFO
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) December 27, 2022
That set-piece routine 😮💨#MUFC || #MUNNFO
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 27, 2022
GOAL Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (23 mins)
Man Utd double their lead in fine fashion. Marcus Rashford cuts inside to feed Anthony Martial, who sidefoots into the bottom corner#MUNNFO
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 27, 2022
All credit to Raphael Varane, the first of anyone involved in the World Cup final to play again (Hugo Lloris was an unused sub for Spurs yesterday).
And this after he went off in extra-time looking totally exhausted.— Adam Marshall (@AdamSMarshall) December 27, 2022
Love that, @Fred08Oficial! 💪#MUFC || #MUNNFO pic.twitter.com/ZzHZBL9BCq
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 27, 2022
