It was back to league business tonight at Old Trafford as the home side kept up the Champions League chase.
Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and a late effort from Fred put them a single point behind Tottenham. It will hearten them with players due back from World Cup duty and illness.
It was a disappointing league return for Forest. They were unable to convert any chances that came their way and made errors at the back. They remain in the relegation zone with yet another away defeat. Injuries to the likes of Jesse Lingard on his return and Brennan Johnson will not help their task.
Erik Ten Haag made four changes from the EFL Cup win over Burnley. Alejandro Garnacho and Martin Dubravka dropped out, whilst Scott McTominay and Victor Lindelof were both missing through illness. That also meant Harry Maguire was just fit enough for the bench. Luke Shaw, David de Gea, Raphael Varane and Antony came into the side. Jesse Lingard started on his return to Old Trafford as Steve Cooper made three alterations from the win over Blackburn. Dean Henderson was ineligible to play against his parent side. Serge Aurier recovered from a calf strain to replace Neco Williams and Renan Lodi came in for Harry Toffolo.
The home side may have been the ones with the make-shift backline, but they began the brighter of the two. Both full-backs combined together well. Aaron Wan-Bissaka drifted in-field before laying it off. The ball came to Tyrell Malacia about ten yards out. His shot was headed towards the bottom corner, but struck the outside of the post. Wayne Hennessy in a rare start palming it onto the woodwork. At the other end, Jesse Lingard created a chance for Taiwo Awoniyi only for Raphael Varane to shield him out.
The good start for United brought about the opening goal. And it was a move directly from the training ground. Christian Eriksen sent in a low corner instead of crossing it, Marcus Rashford peeled away from his marker and swept it into the bottom corner. It was a clever piece of ingenuity but Cooper would have been frustrated by his side switching off.
Almost immediately the lead was doubled. Casemiro started the move by winning the ball inside his own area before playing it out to Luke Shaw who fed Rashford. His cross found his strike partner Anthony Martial who shot through the legs of Willy Boly and into the back of the net. Hennessy got his hands to the ball but was not able to keep it out.
David De Gea was forced into a save shortly afterwards. Midfielder Ryan Yates hammered a shot in from just outside the area. The United keeper did not know much about it but managed to block it out with his chest. Eriksen almost set Rashford free through the centre as the Forest back-line was pulled apart again. On this occasion, the pass was not quite accurate enough.
The away side thought they had a way back into the game just before the break. Lingard feigned a free kick which Renan Lodi swung in instead. Ryan Yates got to it ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the ball went into the net. VAR adjudged that Boly who was offside got the final touch.
Forest tried to find away back into the game and emerged with more spirit after the break. Brennan Johnson managed to beat Malacia out wide before putting in a promising cross towards Awoniyi. Varane was to the rescue with a smart clearance. Shortly after Johnson did well to win the ball back after a cross was overhit. The resulting set piece was cleared though.
United seemed the more likely to score next though. Bruno Fernandes was unable to execute the required cross when he was well placed on a counter. Fernandes did manage to pick out the right final ball not long afterward in another lightning-paced attack. Rashford played an excellent cross to the Portuguese who laid it off to Antony. Hennessy was forced into an excellent stop to keep the score down. The Welsh keeper stood firm again to prevent Martial from netting a second.
United should have put the game to bed as they drove forwards in the search for a third. Casemiro saw a chip tipped over by Hennessy and substitute Donny van de Beek was denied from the resulting corner. Another effort from Fernandes almost embarrassed Hennessy as he was off his line. The shot from over forty yards managed to hit the top of the net instead of falling into it.
Any hope that Forest had of getting back into the game was extinguished with a few minutes left. Again, it was Casemiro who was at the heart of it all. He slid a ball through for substitute Fred to hit a first-time shot into the back of the net.
A job well done in the end. Ten Haag will know that greater challenges lie ahead, but the result was all-important. The energy and togetherness will have pleased him. He will be hoping that key personnel will be able to return to the squad ahead of their away game at Wolves on Saturday at 12.30. Nottingham Forest have a tough encounter at home to Chelsea on January 1st at 16.30.
Manchester United: David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane (Harry Maguire 77), Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Cristian Eriksen (Fred 77), Marcus Rashford (Anthony Elanga 85), Bruno Fernandes, Antony (Donny van de Beek 66); Anthony Martial (Alejandro Garnacho 66)
Subs not used: Tom Heaton, Zidane Iqbal, Rhys Bennett, Facundo Pellistri
Booked: Tyrell Malacia (28), Cristian Eriksen (75), Alejandro Garnacho (84)
Sent off: None.
Nottingham Forest: Wayne Hennessy; Serge Aurier (Neco Williams 74), Joe Worrall, Willy Boly; Renan Lodi (Harry Toffolo 65), Ryan Yates, Remo Freuler, Orel Mangala (Sam Sturridge 65), Brennan Johnson, Jesse Lingard (Lewis O’ Brien 53); Taiwo Awoniyi (Emmanuel Dennis 65)
Subs not used: Steve Cook, Jack Colback, Jordan Smith, Scott McKenna
Booked: Orel Mangala (29)
Sent off: None.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 73,608
Player of the Match: Casemiro
