Player Ratings: Elanga Downs Former Club as Forest Beat Man United 1-0 | OneFootball

Elanga Strike Sinks Man United as Nottingham Forest Grit Out Vital Win

Nottingham Forest produced a performance built on resilience, counter-attacking intent and defensive discipline to edge past Manchester United in a narrow 1-0 win at the City Ground. In a Premier League encounter that rarely flowed, it was a former Red Devil who delivered the decisive blow — and perhaps a subtle reminder of what could have been.

Elanga Returns to Haunt Manchester United

There is a particular poetry in Anthony Elanga scoring the winner against the club that raised him. Inside the opening exchanges, Forest sprung forward from a United corner. Elanga, full of urgency and purpose, surged through a disjointed defence, brushing off would-be tacklers before slotting past Andre Onana with composure.

It was a goal of simplicity and speed, the type of breakaway strike often missing from this current Manchester United side, who again appeared to lack both cutting edge and attacking clarity. While Elanga didn’t celebrate, the City Ground erupted.

Forest’s Shape Stifles United’s Rhythm

This was no smash-and-grab from Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, emboldened by recent momentum and an FA Cup win over Brighton, settled early, controlled their shape, and made United labour for every inch of space.

Diogo Dalot came closest in the first half, looping a header against the bar, but chances were few. Despite dominating territory in the second half, United’s attacking phases often resembled passing for passing’s sake, devoid of any central force to truly threaten Matz Sels’ goal.

Forest, though less threatening after the break, fashioned their own moments. Ryan Yates forced a strong save from Onana, and Morgan Gibbs-White’s burst into the box offered a glimpse of intent. But it was the rearguard that stole the show, particularly centre-back Murillo, whose last-minute goal-line clearance thwarted Harry Maguire’s late chaos-inducing cameo up front.

United’s Tactical Gamble Falls Flat

Ruben Amorim’s decision to throw Maguire forward in the dying stages hinted at desperation. This was a Manchester United performance without fluency — too often reliant on individual sparks, too rarely functioning as a cohesive unit. Bruno Fernandes showed flashes of quality, and Diogo Dalot was a bright presence out wide, but the lack of a focal point up top — especially with Joshua Zirkzee struggling — left the visitors disjointed.

As for Nottingham Forest, this marked a third straight Premier League win and a leap away from the relegation mire. For United, it was another frustrating chapter in a season defined by inconsistencies.

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Nottingham Forest

Manchester United