Forest returned Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United were the visitors to The City Ground.
Head Coach Steve Cooper made 4 changes to the side that were beaten by Aston Villa last time out with Scott McKenna, Renan Lodi and Taiwo Awoniyi all making their first starts since returning from injury. Remo Freuler also came into the starting XI and was given the captain’s armband.
Joe Worrall, Jonjo Shelvey and Harry Toffolo all dropped to the bench with Cheikhou Kouyaté missing out having picked up an injury last week at Villa Park.
The first chance of the game fell for the visitors inside the first minute after Keylor Navas punched clear a Bruno Fernandes cross, only for the ball to fall kindly for Jadon Sancho whose shot was blocked on the line by Felipe.
On 3 minutes Harry Maguire was shown an early yellow card by referee Simon Hooper for cynically bringing down Taiwo Awoniyi on the half-way line.
The first chance for Forest fell to Awoniyi on 6 minutes with a long Niakhaté throw-in causing trouble in the United penalty area but the Forest striker’s effort was blocked at the back post.
At the other end Diogo Dalot’s effort from the edge of the box was sent high and wide into the Trent End.
The next big chance of the match came for Fernandes after 17 minutes, as the visitors built up from the back, but Keylor Navas produced a brilliant save to deny the Portuguese midfielder from close range.
Forest came close to opening the scoring on 24 minutes as an in-swinging Morgan Gibbs-White corner was met at the back post by Scott McKenna but his headed attempt on goal struck the post.
With 30 minutes on the clock, it was Forest who came close again with Danilo’s low strike on goal being tipped round the post by David de Gea for a Forest corner.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead on 32 minutes through Antony after Navas did well to save Martials initial effort, but Antony was first to react to the rebound and put the ball into an empty net at the back post.
Forest could’ve been level as the game approached the halfway stage as a Diogo Dalot misplaced pass fell straight to Taiwo with just David de Gea to beat but he couldn’t keep his shot down and missed the target.
With 2 minutes added to the first half, United could’ve doubled their lead as Bruno Fernandes found himself unmarked in the Forest penalty area but his headed attempt fell wide of the mark.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester United
Straight after the restart there were loud appeals for handball inside the United penalty area from Forest players and supporters alike however, referee Simon Hooper waved the appeals away.
It was then the visitors who had the first chance of the second period on 50 minutes after Antony was given the ball by Fernandes from a short corner, but his bending left footed strike fell just wide of the target.
Forest had started the second half strongly though and were looking for an equaliser with chances falling to striker Taiwo Awoniyi. However, his efforts were unable to test David de Gea.
It was United who threatened next though and they almost doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Bruno Fernandes forced Keylor Navas to produce an unbelievable save, with the Costa Rican tipping Bruno's thunderous effort onto the crossbar.
Keylor Navas then came to the rescue once again on the hour mark, denying Bruno Fernandes for the third time in the match with a smart low save at his near post.
With Steve Cooper's men struggling to retain possession, the Forest Head Coach looked to his bench to freshen up his side on 64 minutes with Sam Surridge and Orel Mangala replacing Taiwo Awoniyi and Remo Freuler.
Shortly after, Neco Williams then found himself in the referee’s notebook for pulling the shirt of Jadon Sancho with United looking to break down their left-hand side. Whilst Erik ten Hag decided to make a change himself, bringing Wout Weghorst on for Anthony Martial.
The changes provided the Reds with more attacking options and it was the home side who came close again after 72 minutes. A Neco Williams cross deflected off Victor Lindelöf and went inches past the far post, before the visitors cleared the resulting corner.
Keylor Navas was then called into action again at the other end, having to get down low to save Antony’s curling attempt on goal.
It was the visitors who then doubled their lead through Diogo Dalot on 76 minutes with Antony’s reverse pass finding the path of Dalot who made no mistake from close range.
Changes for both sides followed with Christian Eriksen being replaced by Fred and Emmanuel Dennis replacing Scott McKenna as the match approached the final 10 minutes
Orel Mangala was the second Forest player to be cautioned with a yellow card for a foul on Antony on the edge of the box.
With less than 5 minutes left on the clock, Forest made their final change of the match with Jesse Lingard coming on to face his former team, replacing Morgan Gibbs-White.
Wout Weghorst was the final player to be booked after a coming together with Niakhaté.
Referee Simon Hooper added 4 minutes to the end of the second half but Forest were unable to carve out any clear-cut chances and it was the visitors who took all 3 points.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester United
LINE UPS:
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Neco Williams, Scott McKenna (Emmanuel Dennis 81’), Moussa Niakhaté, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Danilo, Remo Freuler (Orel Mangala 65’), Taiwo Awoniyi (Sam Surridge 65’), Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White (Jesse Lingard 88’)
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Joe Worrall, Jonjo Shelvey, Harry Toffolo, André Ayew
Manchester United: David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen (Fred 79’), Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Anthony Martial (Wout Weghorst 72’), Jadon Sancho
Substitutes: Jack Butland, Facundo Pellistri, Brandon Williams, Anthony Elanga, Zidane Iqbal, Marc Jurado
Goals: Antony, Diogo Dalot