Nottingham Forest took a huge step towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at the City Ground.
Anthony Elanga fired Forest ahead inside five minutes on the night, devastating his former side with a sensational solo run on the counter attack.
As the Red Devils prodded and probed for an equaliser, Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side defended superbly to hold on for their third clean sheet in four Premier League outings, extending their lead on Chelsea to eight points ahead of Thursday’s match with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Manchester United stayed rooted on 37 points with their 13th defeat of the season, still two points behind Crystal Palace who have two games in hand.
Substitute Harry Maguire came closest to levelling terms for Man United in the dying moments of the match, but his effort was clawed off the line by defender Murillo to the delight of Forest fans.
Mail Sport’s CHRIS WHEELER was at the City Ground to assess the players’ performances on the night.
Nottingham Forest continued their sensational form with a 1-0 win over Man United on Tuesday
Anthony Elanga haunted his former team with a sensational solo goal at the City Ground
It was another frustrating night for Ruben Amorim, whose side stayed rooted on 37 points
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
Matz Sels 6.5
The penalty shootout hero of Forest’s win over Brighton at the weekend was solid again, coping well under pressure.
Neco Williams 6
Had to be on his toes against Garnacho and produced a fantastic block towards the end to keep out the Argentina winger’s piledriver.
Nikola Milenkovic 7
Dealt comfortably with Zirkzee and then produced a magnificent interception tackle when Garnacho threaten to go through at the end of the first half.
Murillo 6.5
Hardly put a foot wrong and came to his team’s rescue with a goal-line clearance from Maguire in the final minute of added time.
Ola Aina 6
Good duel with Dorgu but it was cut short when he limped off shortly before half-time and was replaced by Moreno.
Ryan Yates 7
Detailed to mark dangerman Fernandes and stuck to his task diligently – and mostly legally. Victim of a nasty whack on the shin from Garnacho and a wild challenge from Casemiro.
Matz Sels was solid again between the Nottingham Forest sticks, coping well under pressure
Ryan Yates (right) was the victim of a nasty whack on the shin from Alejandro Garnacho (left)
Murillo hardly put a foot wrong and came to Forest’s rescue in the dying moments of the game
Elliot Anderson 6.5
Another tidy performance from the midfielder, putting in a shift for more than an hour three days after playing 120 minutes in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton.
Danilo 5
Struggled in the first half and was one of two changes made by Forest before the break, although this one looked tactical by Nuno Espirito Santo as he brought on Morato.
Morgan Gibbs-White 7
Typically impressive performance from the Forest No 10. Didn’t pose as much of a goal threat as usual, though, and ballooned a shot into the stands early in the second half.
Anthony Elanga 7.5
Ex-United man scored stunning a solo goal against his old club, running 85 metres in nine seconds from deep inside his own half. An incredible effort.
Taiwo Awoniyi 6.5
Relished his physical battle with De Ligt and then upended Dorgu with a bruising challenge midway through the second half.
Substitutes:
Alex Moreno (Ola Aina 39′) 6
Morato (Danilo 39′) 6
Nicolas Dominguez (Elliot Anderson 67′) 6
Ramon Sosa (Anthony Elanga) N/A
Ibrahim Sangare (Taiwo Awoniyi) N/A
Manager:
Nuno Espirito Santo 6.5
Morgan Gibbs-White put in a typically impressive display off the back of his England call-up
Elanga’s solo goal put Manchester United behind within just five minutes and set the tone
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side now have an eight-point lead over Chelsea in the top four race
Man United (5-2-3)
Andre Onana 6.5
No chance with the first goal and looked to have made a sensational save from Yates’ header early in the second half, but replays showed it would have been ruled out for offside anyway. Shame.
Diogo Dalot 6.5
Got forward well and was unlucky to see his header rattle the bar just before the half hour mark.
Noussair Mazraoui 5.5
Indecisive at times, not least when he was caught in two minds over challenging Elanga head-on for the goal.
Matthijs de Ligt 7
Just about edged his heavyweight clash with Awoniyi and marshalled the defence well throughout.
Leny Yoro 7
Returned to the line-up after injury and produced another languid performance as he switched between the right and left side of Amorim’s back-three. Brilliant tackle on Elanga at towards the end.
Patrick Dorgu 6.5
The young Dane returned after a three-match domestic ban and brought good energy to the left side of United’s attack but was caught napping on Elanga’s goal.
Noussair Mazraoui was indecisive at times for Man United and was often caught in two minds
Leny Yoro (right) returned to the line-up after injury and put in another languid performance
Patrick Dorgu provided good energy on Manchester United’s left-hand side during the match
Casemiro 6
Got the nod alongside Ugarte but didn’t create enough. Had a sight of goal before half-time but fired wide from the edge of the box and was replaced by Eriksen just before the hour mark.
Manuel Ugarte 5
Struggled to get into the game and sacrificed at the break to get Hojlund on up front and drop Fernandes into a deeper role.
Bruno Fernandes 7
Came into the game with seven goals in seven games and did his best to drag his team back into the game, but the nearest he came to scoring here was a header straight at Sels in the first half.
Alejandro Garnacho 5.5
Allowed himself to be outmuscled by Elanga for the goal and wayward in his shooting in the second half. Booked for dissent.
Joshua Zirkzee 6
Preferred to Hojlund in attack, but United lacked a real goal threat through the middle and he switched to the left-flank when the Dane came on at half-time.
Garnacho was outmuscled for the goal and booked for dissent on what was a difficult night
Harry Maguire came agonisingly close to an equaliser but his late effort was hooked off the line
Substitutes:
Rasmus Hojlund (Manuel Ugarte 45′)
Christian Eriksen (Casemiro 59′) 6
Mason Mount (Joshua Zirkzee 78′) 6
Harry Maguire (Leny Yoro 88′) N/A
Manager:
Ruben Amorim 6
