01 April 2025 10:07pm
10:03PM Any doubts that existed about Forest’s staying power are surely being dispelled: that is now seven points from home fixtures against Arsenal, Man City and United in the last batch of games and (for now) they are 10 points clear of sixth.
This was a fairly ropey performance in truth, perhaps shaped by playing 120 minutes at Brighton in the FA Cup. But Anthony Elanga’s goal was fit to win any game and from there they battened down the hatches and held United at bay with some huge blocks and a sprinkling of good fortune.
The result is inconsequential for United’s league season. Defeat hurts, but Amorim will see some positives to take into the Europa League. Play like that and they will fancy their chances against Lyon.
10:00PM Murillo clears the ball of the line after the ball dropped for Maguire a few yards out and he squeezed a shot under Sels. The Brazilian lets out a huge roar in celebration and he team-mates descend to thank him for winning Forest two points there. A brilliant piece of defending. That’s when celebrating a clearance is justified.
9:58PM United have a throw-in near the Forest corner flag. One last chance to deliver into the box, but Williams heads away Fernandes’ cross before Morato volleys away. Forest’s red wall still standing.
9:56PM Ryan Yates has made three critical blocks on the edge of his own box tonight. United are enjoying waves of pressure now. Maguire knocks a header down in the box but Murillo hammers away.
Forest hanging on a touch, but Dominguez stays down holding his ankle to kill some precious seconds.
9:55PM Chance for Maguire! Dorgu with a threatening cross, but Maguire cannot crane his neck to plant the header into an empty net with Sels out of the picture. In fairness, replays show the delivery was a touch behind Maguire.
9:54PM There will be six minutes of added time. United want a penalty for both a handball and then a trip in the box, before Sosa races away on the break for Forest only to try and fail to nutmeg Garnacho.
9:52PM Fernandes tries to scoop a cross into the area but there is far too much on it and the ball runs through to Sels. Dorgu with an aimless cross that his headed away. United do not look likely to find the equaliser, their best openings came in the early stages of the game.
9:50PM Harry Maguire is ready to come on for United, and I think Amorim sees this as an attacking change. He replaces Yoro and I think he is going to play up top. He has planted himself up against Milenkovic with Hojlund moving slightly to the right.
9:48PM Elanga and Awoniyi have done their job in the eyes of Nuno, with Sosa and Sangare replacing them as Forest look to close this out. The home team have run the clock down and killed the tempo of the game effectively, much to the frustration of United fans watching.
9:46PM United have mustered 19 shots at goal to Forest’s five tonight, which sums up what has been a peculiar contest. But Nuno’s team are close to grinding out another vital win that would tighten their grip on a Champions League place.
