MANCHESTER UNITED return to Premier League action against relegation fighters Nottingham Forest – and Antony has fired them ahead.
Injuries to key men makes this game a tall order for the Red Devils.
But Antony’s close-range strike has put the visitors ahead in this vital match.
- Start time: 4.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Forest XI: Navas; Felipe, McKenna, Niakhate; Williams, Danilo, Freuler, Lodi; Gibbs-White; Awoniyi, Johnson
- Man Utd XI: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Casemiro, Fernandes; Antony, Eriksen, Sancho; Martial.
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Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
35. Forest had enough warnings before that goal.
The visitors had been knocking on the door all half.
Steve Cooper will be annoyed how his side were the architects of their own downfall however.
Credit: Getty Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
33. Forest are punished for some sloppy defensive play.
Martial wins possession back, Fernandes slots him in.
His effort is saved by Navas but Antony slides in to put the rebound away.
Goal – Antony (Man Utd)
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
31. The ball breaks to Danilo who looks to test De Gea.
Eriksen gets a block and the ball deflects wide for a corner.
Forest are looking to put the United keeper under pressure with in-swinging corners.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
29. Bruno Fernandes has been key to Man Utd in the attacking third.
Forest need someone to track the United midfielder more.
The visitors are looking to get their full backs up high to support the attacks, Forest have the chance to hurt them on the counter.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
27. There have been early signs from both sides of their attacking intent, creating chances to open the scoring.
Navas has been called into action more than De Gea.
Fernandes swings in another cross but Forest head clear.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
25. A corner is whipped in by Forest towards the back post.
There is a bunch of players going for the ball and it somehow stays out of United’s goal.
That is an early warning for Erik ten Hag’s side.
The replay shows the ball comes back off the woodwork.
Credit: AFP Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
23. If VAR is going to add positives to the game, we need to get rid of this mindset that it is there for ‘clear and obvious errors’.
It should be there to apply the laws of the game, nothing else.
The constant Howard Webb apologies are tiresome and of no consequence to teams when it costing them points.
As it stands, VAR is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
21. Forest are appealing for a penalty for handball.
The replay shows Maguire handled with his arm in a very unnatural position.
VAR reviews it and shows, yet again, all the consistency of the British weather.
No penalty.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
19. United break at pace and Antony finds himself inside the box.
Being so one-footed, he struggles to work a shooting chance.
It breaks to Fernandes who thunders a shot towards goal, bringing a great save from Keylor Navas.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
17. United are dealing with the aerial threat of the hosts.
De Gea comes out to punch clear.
Niakhate tries a shot from distance but it goes well wide.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
15. Neither side seem capable of keeping possession currently.
Both are opting for a more direct attacking mode.
This seems to suit Forest more as they play this way all the time.
Antony tries a shot from outside of the box and it is high, wide and not very handsome.
Credit: AFP Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
13. It is a packed-house at the City Ground today.
The home fans are making themselves heard and creating a cauldron of noise when they come forward.
United need to find a way to silence these fans.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
11. It has been a lively start by both teams.
This game is finely poised as they go in search of the opening goal.
Brennan Johnson is down and in need of medical attention.
He is back on his feet and seems able to continue.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
9. De Gea seems to limping somewhat.
ten Hag gets Jack Butland to start warming up as a precautionary measure.
Fernandes whips a cross in and Felipe heads it just over his own crossabar.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
7. Big chance for Forest as Johnson’s flick on finds Awoniyi.
He looks to stroke the ball home but it is blocked by Wan-Bissaka.
Both sides close to opening the scoring here.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
5. That gives Forest a chance to run at the United centre back now.
Any mistake from Maguire could see him get his marching orders.
The hosts loft a free kick towards the box but it is headed clear.
Credit: Alamy Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
3. Navas did well to block that shot with his foot.
Maybe Fernandes needed to lift the effort more.
Big chance for the visitors to take the lead early on there.
Harry Maguire picks up a yellow card for hauling a player to ground.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd
1. United look to press from the off.
Sancho overruns the ball and the hosts win the ball back.
They lose it again and United come forward, the keeper gets a hand to a cross but the ball drops to Fernandes.
His shot is blocked but that was a big chance for the midfielder.
Kick-off: Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd
We are underway at the City Ground.
It is an electric atmosphere in Nottingham.
Man Utd get the game started.
First goal key to game
With both sides having suffered a dent to confidence and form of late, the first goal of the game today is even more important.
If the hosts get it, United’s reshuffled defence could crumble.
Should the visitors get it, the pressure mounts on both Nottingham Forest and their manager.
United with potential injury concerns
Man Utd had a nightmare in the week with two key players falling foul to injuries.
It seems that goalscorer Marcel Sabitzer may have picked up an injury in the warm up today at the City Ground.
While this has yet to be confirmed, it would no doubt mean Christian Eriksen slotting into the starting line-up.
Forest needing change of fortunes
Having lost four of their last five league games, Nottingham Forest currently occupy the third relegation place, although Everton are only above them on goal difference.
However, they have only lost one of their last eleven Premier League games at the City Ground.
They are looking to set a new club record of scoring in fourteen consecutive Premier League games at home.
History favours Red Devils
Man Utd have won their last nine fixtures against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.
They have scored at least three goals in each of their last six league games against today’s opponents.
Forest are on a run of nine league games without victory, the last time they had such a run it was ended by a 1-0 victory against Liverpool.
ten Hag looking for cutting edge
As he arrives at the ground looking like the latest addition to the cast of Peaky Blinders, the Dutch manager will be looking for a clinical touch to his team today.
All too often they have invited sides back into games that they should have put to bed.
With a huge opportunity to all but guarantee Champions League football next season, three points are key.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
