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Nottingham Forest defeat 'a truly galling reality check for Manchester United'

Manchester United players have been slammed for their lack of accountability after their defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

The memorable win for Nuno Espirito Santo's side signalled a bump in the road for new United boss Ruben Amorim as he watched his side fail to gain ground on their rivals.

Manchester Evening news reporter, Samuel Luckhurst, held nothing back in his criticism of United's players as he penned his post match opinions of the game.

He writes: A win would have taken United above Forest. Instead, Forest are now six points clear of United, still marooned in 13th. United's evening ended with a feckless free kick conceded by Diogo Dalot inside his own third. That was the final, agonising act.

This was Forest's first win at Old Trafford since Stan Collymore wowed the Scoreboard End in December 1994. Forest threatened to end that wait last year by scoring two goals inside the first three minutes. United salvaged that day. They didn't today.

This was a severe regression for Ruben Amorim's side. Three more goals sieved at Old Trafford and Andre Onana back in the form of his first six months at the club. The Cameroonian was enjoying a fine season until his timid goalkeeping at Arsenal's corners and his howler was reminiscent of his error-strewn first six months in Manchester.

Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest scores

Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest scores

Almost as bad was Chris Wood's header to make it 3-1 as United again shrunk amid the aerial bombardment. Wood's header was stoppable, though. Matthijs de Ligt left it for Onana, who left it for Lisandro Martinez, who let the ball drop in.

This was a truly galling reality check for United, a barely mid-table team whose top four chances are receding by the week. They must hope City are as charitable as their recent performances in next week's derby at the Etihad.

Amorim suggested on Friday he was "more or less" close to settling on a best XI and this was more or less close to it. He also admitted United are no longer a "massive team". Forest confirmed that.

There was scant progress on the pitch. In conditions so treacherous that the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand's roof was in danger of coming off, never mind leaking, United were not as inhospitable towards their visitors as the elements.

Both teams emerged with wreaths in memory of Kath Phipps, with Forest's thoughtfully carried by United academy graduate and adopted Mancunian Anthony Elanga. Sir Alex Ferguson was conspicuous by his absence as he is currently abroad, doubtless in sunnier climes.

He would have insisted the players take a look at themselves.

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