Manchester United vs. Nottingham Forest result, highlights as Rashford inspires Premier League win

Posted on by Tereza Honoka

OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER — Marcus Rashford continued his quest to spearhead Manchester United’s post-Cristiano Ronaldo era, guiding his team to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. 

United rose to within a point of Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a Champions League spot, and have the form to suggest they’ll soon usurp the North Londoners, boasting a four-month home unbeaten run and eight wins from their last 10 games across all competitions. 

Meanwhile, Forest remain in the relegation zone. Steve Cooper’s men have taken just two points from their eight road trips in the top flight, with their survival hopes clearly hinging on home form. 

However, the first half of this rainy evening clash nearly told a different story. Forest began brightly, putting in a fearless display a la their City Ground triumph over Liverpool, albeit with the quality touch of Morgan Gibbs-White missing. Jesse Lingard — on his Old Trafford homecoming — was key to their forward forays, but couldn’t land the final ball to Taiwo Awoniyi, who ran hard down both flanks as well as looking to cause trouble for the presumably-fatigued Raphael Varane. 

United punished the relegation battlers twice in the space of three minutes, though, with Rashford the key cog as their counter-attacking play burst into life. He surged beyond the Forest backline on several occasions, but his opener came from a corner routine from the training ground. Christian Eriksen pulled the ball along the ground to the penalty spot, where the England international had peeled off his man to finish well. 

Rashford turned provider for Anthony Martial, who was looking to cement his status as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice No.9 with the transfer window soon opening. All starting from an Awoniyi run at the opposite end, a searching United ball along the left flank after the transition found Rashford, who went inside and played in Martial. His effort was poor, but luckily for him, so was Wayne Hennessey.

The Welsh goalkeeper was a stand-in for Dean Henderson — the United loanee currently in superb form, having pulled off a string of saves to clinch three points against Liverpool before the World Cup break, as well as saving penalties in two other home victories. With Henderson unable to feature against his parent club, Hennessey lent a tame right hand to Martial’s effort, which trickled over the line. 

Ryan Yates thought he’d brought the East Midlands club back into the game before the interval, but his header was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check. Willy Boly had the final touch before the ball hit the net, and the centre-back was correctly adjudged to be in an offside position. Cooper felt this was the turning point of the game, and it certainly panned out that way. 

In the second period, United began to mount some concerted pressure, and it came with the flair the fans here demand. Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Antony began to link up extremely well — again, often on the break from a Forest set-piece. They seemed to be having a competition as to who could produce the perfect party piece, with audacious efforts from Fernandes and Casemiro the pick of the bunch. 

Forest kept on pushing hard, kept on carving out half-chances, and kept on failing to make any meaningful impact. At the other end, Alejandro Garnacho was introduced to much fanfare, following his late winner at Fulham before many of his senior teammates left for Qatar. After a couple of thrilling dribbles down the left flank, the Stretford End sang “Viva Garnacho,” clearly ready to move on from Ronaldo. 

The Red Devils had the game sewn up and ultimately took their foot off the gas, but the third eventually arrived. Substitute Fred was the beneficiary of a lovely ball across the box from Casemiro, who was excellent throughout, controlling the midfield battle with ease and ensuring United produced an impressive second-half display. He found his compatriot’s run at the back post, with Fred finishing well. That came moments after Rashford was given a standing ovation as he left the field, on a night which cemented his status as United’s main man. 

Garnacho may have taken on Ronaldo’s chant, but Rashford is taking on the mantle of putting Ten Hag’s team on his back. He dragged the hosts through a tricky first half and provided the spark, with each of their rare positive moves going through the 25-year-old. Just 24 hours after news emerged over United missing out on the signing of Cody Gakpo, Rashford showed his worth on the left flank favoured by the Dutchman — though also blasted down the right at will to torment Renan Lodi, and took up a central role late on. 

It’s difficult to believe this is the same player who was in such horrendous form last season, to the point where a transfer away was reportedly the most likely outcome. Now, Rashford is not only scoring and assisting, but doing so when it matters. Before tonight, his goal contributions had all been pivotal, directly winning 11 points — including against Arsenal and Liverpool.

A further three goals in the Europa League, two in the Carabao Cup and three in the small matter of the World Cup make this run of form particularly strong. Ten Hag appears to have found a formula, with a clear idea of how United’s starting XI should look, even while the performances continue to lack concerted bouts of pressure. While they overcome those teething problems, it’s clear a revitalised Rashford is the key to producing United’s standout moments. 

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Man United vs. Nottingham Forest score from Premier League

  1H 2H Final
Man United 2 1 3
Nottingham Forest 0 0 0

Goals: Rashford (19); Martial (22); Fred (87) 

Man United vs. Nottingham Forest live updates, highlights as-it-happened

FULL-TIME: United win 3-0 and move to within a point of Spurs, as the Champions League race hots up! 

90th min: Five minutes of added time to come, as Forest continue to push, albeit with a complete lack of a killer finish to make any of the running count. 

87th min: GOAL! A Brazilian connection makes it 3-0 to United, as Casemiro takes out two defenders with his pass which nicely tees up Fred at the back post, who makes no mistake by cutting across goal with his left boot. It’s no more than United deserve, after largely controlling the last half-hour. 

*Video available in UK:

77th min: Garnacho gets the crowd on their feet with a wonderful skip past his man down the left wing, but his ball across goal is diverted away. He’s then serenaded with “Viva Garnacho” as his new song, suggesting the Old Trafford faithful have happily moved on from Ronaldo.

73rd min: Casemiro comes close for United, trying an audacious chip which has Hennessey scrambling before tipping the ball over. From the resulting corner, Van de Beek has a volley blocked. The next corner is dealt with by Forest, before Fernandes attempts an even cheekier lob from just outside the centre-circle, but it lands on the roof of the net. The hosts really do fancy a party piece now. 

66th min: The lesser-spotted Donny van de Beek gets the best part of a half-hour on the field, replacing Antony. Alejandro Garnacho, who memorably scored a late winner at Fulham heading into the World Cup break, also gets another chance to shine, on for Martial. Immediately, the two link up and almost make a third goal. Garnacho down the left finds Van de Beek, who in turn plays in Rashford, but his effort is stopped. It’s one-way traffic. 

60th min: They’ve taken their time, but Ten Hag’s boys are starting to purr. Fernandes receives the ball nicely on the turn, spotting and finding the run of Martial, who takes the strike on but Hennessey closes it down well. 

56th min: The Red Devils very nearly manufacture a superb third goal, with Rashford pulling the strings. He cuts in from the left to thread a beautiful ball through the heart of the Forest backline into Bruno Fernandes, who has every right to shoot but instead deftly knocks it on to Antony a few yards on, but the Brazilian’s effort is saved. 

54th min: It’s an evening to forget for Lingard, who is forced off the field through injury. As expected, though, the academy product receives a standing ovation from each Old Trafford stand as he gingerly makes his way around the pitch towards the bench. 

*Video available in USA:

52nd min: Again Steve Cooper’s men are on the front foot, this time carving out a chance from the right for Mangala, who hits the side netting on his near-post run. A minute later, they win a corner in front of their travelling fans, and once more it’s simply taken to set up an Antony counter. 

47th min: This half already looks to be more of the same. Forest begin well, with Brennan Johnson swinging in a ball from the right to win a corner. From that set-piece, United win the ball and then burst forward like the red arrows to make a three-on-three almost instantly. Antony’s lovely ball over the top doesn’t quite lead to anything in the end, but it’s another warning sign. For all Forest’s strong play, United could rack up a huge victory with very little effort. 

46th min: No changes at the break, and we’re back underway. 

HALF-TIME: Far from a vintage performance, but United go into the interval 2-0 up thanks to Rashford and Martial. 

43rd min: NO GOAL! The visiting celebrations are short-lived, as the goal is correctly ruled out for offside thanks to Boly’s touch. It remains 2-0. 

*Video available in USA:

42nd min: United may be saved here. There’s a VAR check for a possible handball – and it also looks to be offside! 

40th min: GOAL! Forest are back in it! From a free-kick, Yates wheels away in celebration after his header, though the final touch looks to have come off Willy Boly. 

33rd min: After a Ryan Yates potshot from distance troubles David De Gea, United respond via Rashford once more, who finds himself on the right wing again and blasts past Renan Lodi – who enjoyed a memorable night here with Atletico Madrid in March – with ease. The England international can’t find the right final ball, though. 

*Video available in USA:

29th min: Rashford looks in the mood, and was just on a surging counter forward before being dragged back by Orel Mangala on halfway, with the Forest midfielder picking up a yellow card. The Red Devils have been gifted their lead – and can count themselves lucky Henderson is not allowed to play today – and are struggling to build concerted pressure, but do look very threatening on the break. 

22nd min: GOAL! It’s 2-0! After Awoniyi breaks down the right at the opposite end of the field and feels he was unfairly tugged back, United immediately break up the other end and take a commanding early lead. A searching ball along the left flank finds Rashford, who goes inside and turns provider for Martial. His effort is relatively poor, but Wayne Hennessey has a tame right hand which only diverts the ball into his net. 

*Video available in UK:

*Video available in USA:

19th min: GOAL! It’s a well-worked corner routine from Christian Eriksen to Rashford, and United are 1-0 up! The Denmark international plays it along the ground to around the penalty spot, where the the Red Devils’ No.10 peels away from his man and cuts the ball back across goal. 

*Video available in UK:

*Video available in USA:

13th min: The visitors have not given up any more openings, and are slowly starting to work out how to make their own with a couple of through balls nearly creeping through the makeshift United defence. Lingard is the key creative force, but the touch of quality usually provided by Morgan Gibbs-White already looks like it could be an issue here in making these moments count. 

6th min: Forest, hit with injuries of their own, have started brightly. No clear-cut chances, but Taiwo Awoniyi is making the running and putting himself on Varane to test out just how exhausted the France international is. At the other end, though, Malacia has the first significant shot, hitting the post from the left after Rashford’s initial effort was blocked. 

KICK-OFF: We’re underway here in the rainy North West.

5 mins to KO: Anthony Martial, fresh after five weeks off, has a huge chance to make the starting spot as United’s No.9 his own and drive this club back to the Champions League in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era. The Red Devils now sit just four points behind Spurs with two games in hand, and with very winnable games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth next up. 

20 mins to KO: While Varane has perhaps been rushed back into the XI slightly ahead of schedule, after playing in a World Cup final just eight days ago, Lisandro Martinez is still absent from the United squad. The fellow centre-back was of course on the winning team in Qatar, though didn’t feature in the final itself. He became the fifth United player in history to lift the game’s greatest trophy, with manager Ten Hag understandably “proud” of Martinez. 

40 mins to KO: Dean Henderson is denied a chance to prove a point today, as the United loanee is unable to play against his parent club. The goalkeeper is in fine form, having made a string of super saves to secure a win over Liverpool before the World Cup break. He also denied Declan Rice and Wilfried Zaha from the penalty spot to clinch victories against West Ham and Crystal Palace.

1 hour to KO: United’s team news is out and it is a makeshift defence as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia start. The Athletic have reported that an illness in the camp has forced Ten Hag into selecting that back four. 

1 hour 20 mins to KO: United academy product Jesse Lingard makes his homecoming this evening, and is a man on a mission following a distasteful last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The England international spent the backend of 2020/21 in fine form on loan at West Ham, but the Red Devils blocked a permanent transfer away, instead electing to keep him for the final year of his deal.

Lingard told the Telegraph: “It was false promises. I don’t know why I wasn’t playing. I don’t know what the problem was, whether it was politics or whatever. I still haven’t got an answer to this day. I didn’t even ask. I’d rather that someone out of respect for me being there that long told me: ‘this is why you’re not playing’. I never got that.”

1 hour 40 mins to KO: Since Forest were last relegated from the Premier League, these two sides haven’t been drawn together in either of the cups, making this a first meeting in a generation. United are on a six-game winning streak against the East Midlands club — the most recent being an infamous 8-1 victory at the City Ground. Forest’s last triumph here came 28 years and 10 days ago, via a Stuart Pearce winner.

2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, live from Old Trafford.

United’s 2-0 win against Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday continued a strong run of home form for the team who were fifth in the Premier League when the action halted to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar.

Forest’s total of two points on their travels so far this season is the worst away record of any team in the top flight – but the relegation battlers have lost only one of their last five games in all competitions, beating Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and, most recently in the Premier League, Crystal Palace.

What time is Man United vs. Nottingham Forest?

United play host to Forest at Old Trafford. It kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Tuesday, December 27.

  Kickoff time
USA 15:00 ET
Canada 15:00 ET
UK 20:00 GMT
Australia 07:00 AEDT*
India 01:30 IST
Hong Kong 04:00 HKT*
Malaysia 04:00 MYT*
Singapore 04:00 SGT*
New Zealand 09:00 NZDT*

*Game starts on December 28 in these time zones

How to watch Man United vs. Nottingham Forest

  TV channel Streaming
USA USA Network, Universo fuboTV, Peacock, Universo Now, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada — fuboTV
UK — Amazon Prime Video
Australia — Optus Sport
New Zealand Sky Sport Premier League SKY Go
India Star Sports Select 1 Star Sports
Hong Kong 621 Now Premier League 1, 620 Now Premier League TV Now TV
Malaysia — Astro Go
Singapore — StarHub TV+

UK: The full matchweek of post-Christmas fixtures are streaming via Amazon Prime.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

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