MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST: MARCUS RASHFORD ON TARGET AS ERIK TEN HAG’S SIDE MAINTAIN GOOD FORM

Since losing 6-3 to Manchester City on October 2, Manchester United have only lost once in 14 competitive matches, and their good run of form was not affected by the break for the 2022 World Cup, as they recorded a straightforward win over Nottingham Forest. It hadn’t looked like being so simple at the outset though, as an illness bug left the Red Devils’ defence threadbare.

Goals from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred gave Manchester United all three points against Nottingham Forest.

The 3-0 win means Erik Ten Hag’s side now sit just one point off fourth-placed Spurs with a game in hand.

Manchester United started the game with a great intensity, looking to get at Forest down the flanks from the off.

After creating a couple of good opportunities, Ten Hag’s side found the breakthrough after 19 minutes with a goal straight off the training ground. Christian Eriksen fired a corner across the turf to the middle of the area where Marcus Rashford was on hand to smash it home first time.

United went 2-0 up just three minutes later, and this time Rashford turned provider, chopping inside from the left before laying it off to Martial who squeezed his effort past Wayne Hennessey.

Forest thought they had one back five minutes from half-time as Ryan Yates headed home, but a VAR check confirmed the ball took the slightest of touches off an offside Wily Boly.

United had numerous chances to kill the game off in the second-half but just lacked the required ruthlessness in the final third.

Antony fired straight at Wayne Hennessey with a chance that he really should have scored, and just moments later Anthony Martial saw an effort saved by the busy Hennessey.

It was more of the same thereafter for United who continually managed to get in behind Forest’s backline but struggled to make Steve Cooper’s side pay.

Nottingham Forest tried to get forward when they could but failed to really make David de Gea work and the threat of United on the counter deterred Forest from going forward further.

United finally got their third goal late in the game though, Casemiro played a sensational pass into Fred who fired past Hennessey to make it 3-0 and wrap up all three points for the Red Devils.