Bruno Fernandes was the star of the show on Saturday as the Portuguese midfielder helped turn a two-goal deficit into a three-point win at Old Trafford.
Nottingham Forest stunned the Theatre of Dreams early in the game, scoring two goals inside just four minutes and setting the affair up to be a potentially catastrophic evening for the Reds.
United did not lose their composure and collapse, however, and Christian Eriksen’s goal later in the first half gave United the distance they needed to catch up.
Forest maintained their lead into the interval but a Fernandes-inspired United would score just seven minutes into the second half, with Casemiro equalising after being played in by Fernandes.
Later in the half, Fernandes would force a red card when he was brought down by Joe Worrall later on. Fernandes was wreaking havoc against Steve Cooper’s men and of course, it would be the former Sporting caption who scored the winner.
Speaking after the game, Fernandes admitted that United took inspiration from the supporters at Old Trafford, with past comebacks also giving them belief that they are capable of turning games around.
“We knew that if we scored a goal in the first half, the fans will get behind us,” Fernandes is quoted as saying by the official Manchester United website.
“Even when it was 2-0, the fans were still pushing for us, still there for us.
“And obviously when we get that goal, it gives everyone a lift – players on the pitch, the fans in the stands, and they know that this team is capable of a comeback.
“This club has a lot of achievements in comebacks in the games when you’re losing, so they know that we’re capable of that, they know we have a great spirit on the team. We have a great passion that we will do the right things to get the result.”
Fernandes has started his first season as the club’s captain in inspired form, despite United’s patchy form. Going into the third round of games, he had created more chances than any other Premier League player.
Now, he is off the mark both in terms of assists and goals and he will be key to United all season.