Nottingham Forest etched their name in Premier League history with a stunning 3-2 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, marking their first away win against the Red Devils since December 1994. The triumph catapulted Forest into the top five of the league table, leaving United grappling with back-to-back defeats.
A Nightmare Start for Manchester United
United’s recurring struggles with set-pieces were exposed yet again. Within just two minutes, Nikola Milenković, unmarked in the box, scored his first goal for Forest, nodding in a well-placed corner from Elliot Anderson. This marked the seventh goal United has conceded from corners this season—a joint league high.
Despite the early setback, United rallied and found an equalizer in the 18th minute. A swift counterattack saw Manuel Ugarte set up Alejandro Garnacho, whose effort was parried by Forest keeper Matz Sels into the path of Rasmus Højlund, who slotted home his third goal in as many matches.
End-to-End Action in the First Half
Both teams traded chances in an electrifying first half. Forest came close to regaining the lead when Jota Silva’s header struck the crossbar. United responded through Bruno Fernandes, whose thunderous free-kick rattled the woodwork. The first half ended with both teams locked at 1-1.
Second-Half Forest Blitz
Forest came out firing in the second half, capitalizing on defensive errors from Manchester United. First, Morgan Gibbs-White unleashed a swerving strike that caught United goalkeeper André Onana off guard. Minutes later, a miscommunication between Onana and defenders Lisandro MartÃnez and Matthijs de Ligt allowed Chris Wood to head in Forest’s third goal.
This goal not only extended Forest’s lead but also made Wood the club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer.
United’s Late Response Falls Short
Bruno Fernandes reignited hopes for United with a stunning long-range strike in the 60th minute, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. However, Forest’s disciplined defense and clever game management thwarted United’s attempts at a comeback. A late volley by Amad Diallo was blocked, sealing Forest’s second league victory at Old Trafford.
Implications for Both Teams
Nottingham Forest’s victory marked a historic season, having already defeated Liverpool at Anfield. The win leaves Forest comfortably in the top five of the league standings, while United languishes in the bottom half, with manager Ruben Amorim facing increasing pressure to turn their season around.