Marcus Rashford’s Goal Not Enough as United Falls to Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest claimed a memorable 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the City Ground on Saturday, marking the Portuguese manager’s first home win in the Premier League with the Tricky Trees.
In a game of three stunning first-time goals, the Red Devils initially grabbed the equalizer through Marcus Rashford, thanks to a Matt Turner howler, but Morgan Gibbs-White’s late curled effort restored Forest’s advantage and secured back-to-back wins for Santo’s men.
Rashford, leading the line in the absence of the ill Rasmus Hojlund, partnered the lively Antony upfront for Manchester United, while Dominguez and Ryan Yates returned to the Forest XI. Santo’s side showcased early intent, nearly capitalizing on a Raphael Varane error before Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s deflected strike offered Turner a routine save.
The first half remained largely devoid of attacking excitement, prompting Erik ten Hag to replace Kobbie Mainoo with Scott McTominay at halftime. However, it was Diogo Dalot who ignited the second half with a thunderous 20-yard strike that rattled the post.
Forest’s persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Anthony Elanga’s pass found Gonzalo Montiel, whose exquisite turn set up Nicolas Dominguez for a calm first-time finish past David de Gea. Ten Hag’s men almost responded instantly through Alejandro Garnacho, but his volley soared over the bar.
Despite some shaky moments from Turner, Forest held firm until the 78th minute when the American’s misplaced pass gifted the ball to Garnacho. The young Argentine found Rashford, who coolly slotted past Turner to level the score.
Turner redeemed himself minutes later, denying Christian Eriksen and sparking a Forest counter-attack that culminated in Gibbs-White curling home a beautiful winner past a helpless Onana.
Manchester United had a late flurry with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo testing Turner, but Forest held firm to earn their first league victory over the Red Devils since 1994.
This triumph sees Forest climb to 15th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone, while Manchester United remain seventh, nine points adrift of the Champions League places. Both teams will focus on the FA Cup next, with Forest hosting Blackpool and United travelling to Wigan Athletic.
The article successfully captures the key moments of the match, highlighting Forest’s resilience, United’s struggles, and the individual brilliance of Dominguez and Gibbs-White. It also provides context with the league standings and upcoming fixtures, making it a satisfying read for fans of both sides.
