Morgan Gibbs-White posted a goal and an assist in the second half as Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 3-2 on Saturday for a first win at Old Trafford for 30 years.
[ MORE: Ruben Amorim’s postgame reaction ]
It’s back-to-back losses for United following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal that saw the hosts strike twice off corner kicks.
Gibbs-White was joined on the score sheet by Nikola Milenkovic — off a corner kick — and Chris Wood — off a back post cross, and Forest moved fifth on the Premier League table with 25 pints, two behind Man City.
Man United remain on 19 points after their failed bid to leapfrog Forest. They sit 13th, two points off the top half of the table.
Man United — Jims and Joes more than Xs and Os
Ruben Amorim can do a bunch of things to make Manchester United a better football team, and he has already made a difference at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are at least showing more passion than they did in the last days of Erik ten Hag, and Amorim’s back three is showing signs of what United can be once the system is better understood and experienced by his players. But there’s a college basketball coach from Buffalo, Reggie Witherspoon, who once downplayed a set play that worked for a basket by saying, “It’s about Jims and Joes more than Xs and Os.” That feels right with this United. There are a lot of square pegs in round holes. Amorim has talked about wanting more athleticism at United. Whether that’s about fitness or just physical attributes, it’s clear he’s not working with what — or who — he wants right now. United will get a little better but until he gets his guys this will not be a massively improved squad. United fans should hope that begins in January.
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest player ratings
(via fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Man United go to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League at 12:45pm ET Thursday, then visit Manchester City for a derby scrap at 11:30am Sunday.
Forest waits til Saturday for their next game, a 12:30pm ET visit from Aston Villa.
How to watch Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest final score: 2-3
Nikola Milenkovic 2', Rasmus Hojlund 18', Morgan Gibbs-White 48', Chris Wood 54', Bruno Fernandes 61'
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest stats
Possession: 72-28
Shots: 17-11
Shots on target: 7-3
Expected Goals: 1.55-0.69
Touches in opposition box: 31-15
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Manchester United 2-3 Nottingham Forest
A day to forget for Man United’s defenders and goalkeepers, and one to remember for all of Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo was a good hire, huh?
Seven minutes stoppage
Plenty of time or United to equalize, as Diogo Dalot opens seven minutes stoppage by blazing over the goal.
More subs
Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount replace Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
That means United will finish with:
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Dalot, Mainoo, Mount, Diallo, Rashford, Zirkzee, Hojlund
Forest had brought on Morato for Jota Silva, and Nicolas Dominguez and ex-United winger Anthony Elanga are now on for Gibbs-White and Wood.
Man United subs
Harry Maguire comes in for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui replaces Yoro.
3-2 Forest, 66'.
Bruno Fernandes goal! Manchester United 2-3 Nottingham Forest (61st minute)
Sensational stuff from the United captain.
Fernandes slices a side-volley pass from midfield to cut through several defenders and send Amad Diallo forward with numbers.
Diallo cuts onto his left foot and squares it back to the top of the 18, where Fernandes contorts his body to rip a vicious effort into the side netting.
Game on.
Man United sub
Garnacho, who has been lively but sloppy, comes off for Marcus Rashford in the 59th minute with United trailing 3-1 at home.
Chris Wood goal! Man United 1-3 Forest (54th minute)
Gibbs-White turns provider, taking a lay-off from Jota Silva and standing up a backspun back post cross.
Chris Wood has little trouble from his mark Yoro, and the Kiwi nods home yet another goal.
Morgan Gibbs-White goal! Man United 1-2 Forest (48th minute)
Bruno Fernandes gives the ball away in the United third, and off goes Calum Hudson-Odoi.
The English winger cues up Morgan Gibbs-White, whose low shot swerves violently and Andre Onana cannot adjust to keep it from skipping past him.
Halftime — Manchester United 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Even is fair enough, though Man United were overall the better side.
Forest clearly feel they can push the hosts via set pieces, just as Arsenal did at midweek.
Anyone’s game here. Yoro has been alright in his first Premier League start, better with the ball at his feet.
United start knocking
After Forest controls play for a bit, joining the Red Devils on six shot attempts each, they nearly see their hosts go in front.
Bruno Fernandes’ free kick skims the top of the wall and Sels gets a touch to it before it clanks off the cross bar.
1-1, 42'.
Jota Silva heads off the bar
More set piece danger for Forest, as Jota Silva takes a headed pass and arcs a ball over the hand of a flying Andre Onana but off the bar.
Milenkovic’s hopeful bid at the rebound is partially-blocked by United.
Shots 6-2 to United with 76% possession and they trail 1-0.
You’re being Nuno-ed, Ruben.
Rasmus Hojlund goal! Manchester United 1-1 Nottingham Forest (18th minute)
Garnacho is played into the box and saved by the chest of a splayed Sels.
But Rasmus Hojlund has followed the ball and slotted the rebound, celebrating with a ‘Gladiator’ style thumbs up, thumbs down, throat slash.
Might get in trouble for that.
United threaten off corner
It takes Neco Williams, Matz Sels, and Milenkovic to put off United’s 15th-minute bid from a corner kick.
Sels gets the last touch over the bar for another corner, and Forest deal with that.
Nikola Milenkovic goal! Manchester United 0-1 Nottingham Forest (2nd minute)
Lisandro Martinez looks like a child trying to hold off Nikola Milenkovic’s charge to the front post.
He leaps and nods Elliot Anderson’s corner home. Tremendous start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Hojlund
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Yates, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jota, Wood
Manchester United team news, focus
Amorim mentioned United’s hopes of key players growing their fitness after long-term injuries, noting that Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, and Leny Yoro might’ve played more at midweek had they not been on significant minutes limits,
OUT: Victor Lindelof (groin), Luke Shaw (foot), Jonny Evans (knock)
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Forest have gotten so many goals out of Chris Wood this season that their playmakers have sometimes gone under the radar. Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Calum Hudson-Odoi are part of a wickedly deep group of rotated attackers.
OUT: Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (undisclosed)
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Let’s ride the Amorim momentum train for a minute here. The Red Devils are getting healthier and signs of cohesion from the Portuguese boss are already arriving at Old Trafford. Forest are solid but showed their cracks against City. This may be part of a dip in form for Forest, who are having a solid season. Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest.
