Nottingham Forest 2-1 Manchester United (30 Dec, 2023) Game Analysis

Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday as the home side added further misery to their beleaguered visitors with goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White securing the points at a reeling City Ground .

Erik ten Hag's United side are struggling in seventh place on 31 points after their 14th defeat this season in all competitions. It was Forest's first Premier League victory against United since 1994.

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The visitors were coming off an uplifting 3-2 home win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, which saw them recover from two goals down, but their inconsistency struck again and they were terrible at times on Saturday, both in attack than in defense.

Dominguez opened the scoring in what had been a dreary match after 64 minutes with a shot from the center of the area.

Marcus Rashford equalized in the 78th when Alejandro Garnacho pounced on a poor clearance from US goalkeeper Matt Turner and sent a precise pass across the edge of the penalty area to Rashford who fired into the bottom right corner.

United's celebrations were short-lived, however, as Gibbs-White fired a superb shot into the corner on the counter-attack after Turner had made a superb save at the other end.

Ten Hag admitted his side need to find consistency after failing to back up their come-from-behind win over Villa.

“We know that. We have to make our performances consistent and do better. A match lasts 90 minutes and we have to invest from the first minute,” Ten Hag told BBC Sport.

“The performance in the first half was okay. We invested to do less in the final third. I think we should have created more.

“In the second half we had moments where we conceded goals. Then we came back into the game and I think the game was ours and we went for 2-1 and then we conceded. We had our moments but it wasn't good enough to win.here.

“We hope that many players will return in the new year and strengthen the team and the squad.

“We know the reasons why it doesn't work. No team can deal with as many problems and injuries as us. We still should have done better and we have depth in the team. When you have that much injuries, the depth is not enough.”

The victory means Nuno Espírito Santo's Forest, who have won consecutive matches for the first time this season, are 15th with 20 points after 20 matches, five points clear of the drop zone.

“Let's celebrate. Enjoy this moment because it is well deserved,” Espírito Santo said on Sky Sport.

“I think it was a good performance. We started well, we controlled well and defended compactly. We had some good moments in possession. In the second half we went there and created some combinations. first goal is very beautiful. Knowing how to succeed This space, you have to combine it. The calmness of the finish too, it was a great goal.

“Honestly, I haven't done anything. What we're trying to do is create an idea. The talent is there, so it's the confidence to play. It's our responsibility in how we let's defend. But they have to believe in the idea. The spaces were there and it's a credit to the players because we're only here for 11 days and they're the ones working really, really hard.

“The first game was tough to take but the players responded at St James' Park and again today. We know it's a long road. Enjoy it but then recover. We have the FA Cup to prepare for and then we have to continue We can't relax.

“We know each other and it's a process, not just in training sessions but also in meetings. The players are showing they can do it, I'm just here to help.

“It’s a bad time [from Matt Turner] because I think the situation is under control but that's what we want: to believe in the idea of ​​trying to play. The only way to find space is to play, combine and have the confidence to play the ball. This is the only way we will create.

“We had Morgan Gibbs-White when he was 16, but now he’s a different man and the credit goes to Steve. [Cooper] because I find another player. He is mature. What we want from him is for him to be that guy that we can count on and get him the ball because he's so talented.”