Man Utd player ratings gallery vs Nottingham Forest: One scores 3/10 and another 4/10 despite win
Adam Lord
·4-min read
Manchester United needed Bruno Fernandes' penalty to pick up all three points against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United got themselves out of jail as they saw off Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Looking to rebound from the defeat at Tottenham, Erik Ten Hag saw his side go 2-0 down inside four shocking opening minutes.
In another unconvincing display United rebounded though, aided by a red card for Forest’s Joe Worall.
Collapsed in the face of Taiwo Awoniyi for the opening goal after being horribly exposed. In reality, after a mad opening had very little to do.
The hosts made a disastrous start. Forest cleared a Bruno Fernandes corner and with Marcus Rashford and Antony somehow the last two players back, Taiwo Awoniyi slotted past Andre Onana with just 90 seconds on the clock having been given the freedom to run 50 yards on goal.
It was then two inside four minutes. Diogo Dalot conceded the foul on the right and Morgan Gibbs-White’s centre was headed home by an unmarked Willy Boly.
United settled themselves and hit back on 17 minutes. Marcus Rashford, playing from the left, squared for Christian Eriksen to score from close range.
Casemiro then missed an absolute sitter to make it 2-2 on 25 minutes as United controlled more of the play for the rest of the opening half.
Nearly saw a deflected cross end up in the back of the net after some good skill. Stuck to his task pretty well on a day where United’s backline didn’t cover themselves in glory.
They continued to look vulnerable though with Brennan Johnson nearly extending Forest’s advantage again only for his goal-bound shot to hit his own man in Awoniyi.
United levelled things up however seven minutes into the second half. Bruno Fernandes and Rashford exchanged passes in an elaborate free-kick routine before the former squared for Casemiro who couldn’t miss from close range a second time.
Forest went down to 10 at the mid-point of the second half when Joe Worrall was adjudged to have brought down Fernandes as he went through on goal.
It was the skipper who put United in front 15 minutes from time, converting from the spot after Rashford had been fouled by Danilo as he broke into the area.
Produced some good covering challenges when United were exposed but had a tough 45 minutes before being taken off.
Andre Onana produced one sharp save late on as Forest threatened a leveller on another unconvincing afternoon at Old Trafford.
All at sea at times - especially against the physical Awomiyi. Saw plenty of the ball when Forest sat but often exposed going the other way.
Given the nod at left-back but didn’t cover himself in glory in place of Luke Shaw.
Stood standing as Willy Boly headed in Forest’s second unmarked and then missed an absolute sitter to make it 2-2 in the first half. Couldn’t miss a second time after the interval when he improved.
In for the injured Mason Mount and scored a tidy goal with the outside of his right foot but in reality didn’t have much of an impact on the game.
Did more than anyone to try and get United back in the game - his elaborate free-kick routine with Rashford setting up the second goal before he scored from the spot.
Really lacking in end product in a poor first period. Nearly put United in front with a fine curling effort after the interval before coming close to laying on a goal for Bruno Fernandes.
Beaten in the centre circle for the opening goal but how he was last man is anyone’s guess. Back at the right end for United, did all the work for Eriksen’s goal that got United back in it and then played a hand in the second with Ferandes. Also won the penalty.
Back in the side for his 300th United appearance but provided no goal threat in the opening half. Made a hash of one opening when seemingly in on goal at the start of the second period.
Replaced Varane at the interval and nearly exposed immediately after coming on, also sold short by an Onana pass.
Some bright touches when coming on to lead the line in place of Martial.
Brought on late in the piece to help sure things up. Took a bang for his troubles deep into 11 minutes of added on time.
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