United were back to their old ways against a resurgent Forest with Nuno

Manchester United returned to their old ways in their final game of a 2023 to forget. The amazing return on Boxing Day against Aston Villa (3-2) and the arrival of the tycoon Jim Ratcliffe to the club’s shareholders raised hopes of a better future among its fans, but Nottingham Forest rediscovered all the shortcomings of the ‘red devils’ by beating them for the first time in 29 years (2-1).

The arrival of Nuno Holy Spirit has reactivated Forest, who with two consecutive wins (they only won 1-3 at Newcastle) from one place away from the relegation zone to being in 15th place, five points behind Luton .

Ten Hag is in danger again

A very different reality lives on Erik ten Haag, whose continuity is again in jeopardy after the ninth league defeat for a very gray United which falls on seventh place and are now nine points away from the Champions zone.

United once again showed their problems to dominate their visits to the teams below but put them under intense pressure, even in the first half. Nuno’s Forest have more possession.

Dalot in the post

We had to wait more than half an hour to see United’s first shot. It was done by full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who did not surprise goalkeeper Matt Turner. The forest came, albeit aimlessly.

After the break, another full-back Diogo Dalot had a good chance when he received a ball from Wan-Bissaka and first unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that hit the post (54′).

But Forest got closer to the visiting area and in the 63rd minute they found the breakthrough that was missing in the final metres. In an action on the right, Gonzalo Montiel put the low ball to fellow Argentine Nicolás Domínguez, who crossed the net.

Rashford equalized but Gibbs-White sealed it

United once again found themselves behind on the scoreboard and forced to ride against the tide. Although he continued to tip possession in his favour, his reaction was without football arguments and the tie came via a delivery error by goalkeeper Turner that was blocked by Alejandro Garnacho and helped Marcus Rashford, unmarked, to finish low (78′). It was only the Englishman’s third goal in this Premier League.

Christian Eriksen made it 1-2 with a shot deflected by Turner, but in the following match against Forest he struck the final blow. Anthony Elanga places the ball Morgan Gibbs-White and he puts it in from the front near the post with a very good hit (82′).

United did their best in long injury time and stepped up in more areas than they did all game but Turner thwarted their desperate attempts and condemned them to a defeat that once again threw Old Trafford into utter confusion.

NOTTINGHAM

21

MANCHESTER UNITED

Nottingham: Turner; Montiel (Neco Williams, 74′), Niakhaté, Murillo, Ola Aina (Toffolo, 87′); Yates, Danilo (Orel Mangala, 87′); Gibbs-White, Nicolás Domínguez (Hudson-Odoi, 79′), Elanga (Boly, 87′); wood

Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka (Reguilón, 90′), Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo (McTominay, 46′), Eriksen; Antony (Amad Diallo, 54′), Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
The
Goals: 1-0 Nicolás Domínguez (64′), 1-1 Rashford (78′), 2-1 Gibbs-White (82′)

Referee: Tim Robinson. Yellow to Gibbs-White (56′), Dalot (57′), Varane (59′), Garnacho (85′), Orel Mangala (88′), Eriksen (99′)

Spectators: 29,529 at the City Ground

see the match sheet