MAN UTD 2-3 NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Ruben Amorim tasted defeat for the first time at Old Trafford, showing the Portuguese how big of a challenge he faces to turn the Red Devils around
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest scores their 3rd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Old Trafford on December 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest scores their 3rd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Old Trafford on December 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Manchester United were beaten by Nottingham Forest (
Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
News
Politics
Football
Celebs
TV
Strictly
Shopping
Royals
Ruben Amorim wants a team full of mad dogs. At the moment he has too many pussy cats.
United’s new manager opted to unleash some of his young pups after telling the world that he needs to put some bite into them. But after showing some fight to get themselves back on level terms in the first half, his inexperienced team found themselves in serious danger of being gobbled up.
It’s early days for Amorim, of course. But his new-manager bounce only realised a point at Ipswich and a win over Everton before the reality of the task ahead of him kicked in with two defeats in four days. Nuno Espirito Santo is the first Forest manager since Frank Clark 30 years ago to head back from Old Trafford to Nottingham with three points.
Forest finished third that season. They are fifth now, United down in 13th. This was a chastening evening for Santo's compatriot. Amorim only needed four games to call out what Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag had seen before him - that United's players aren’t prepared to do the necessary leg work.
[
Sir Jim Ratcliffe admits Man Utd are MEDIOCRE as chief promises 'unpopular' decisions](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manutd-jim-ratcliffe-mediocre-criticism-34270219)
[
Man Utd scouting Premier League starlet who Sir Jim Ratcliffe appointment 'loves'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manutd-transfer-ratcliffe-southampton-astonvilla-34270140)
So Amorim sent out the kids. The United boss confessed he still has work to do to discover his best team. So the sight of Marcus Rashford sat with the subs spoke volumes. United were trailing 3-1 and looking desperate when he came on. He also ditched the three-man defence he prefers in a bid to bring more certainty and some solidarity.
Amorim’s team had an average age of just 23. Only three players were older than 25. There was a debut at full-back for £50million teenager Leny Yoro. Kobbie Mainoo, 19, was back after suspension. There was 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, 21, and Amad, 22.
Before kick-off, United’s players stood behind a banner paying tribute to Kath Phipps, the training ground receptionist who passed away at the age of 85 after spending the last 55 years serving the club she loved. Ninety-one seconds later, the Class of 2024 were a goal down.
Will Manchester United qualify for the Champions League? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Nikola Milenkovic scored an early header to stun Manchester United (
Image:
Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
United’s stability at set-pieces is so erratic that Amorim spent an age putting his players through defensive drills before the game at Arsenal on Wednesday night. He then had his nose blooded in the Premier League for the first time when the Gunners prevailed thanks to a couple of well-worked corner routines.
When Elliot Anderson caressed a corner into Andre Onana’s near post, Nikola Milenkovic was being marked by Mainoo. But the Serbian lost the teenager, then muscled his way in front of World Cup-winning Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez and scored with a meaty nod off his brow. It was the seventh goal United had conceded from a corner this season.
There were other Forest opportunities from set-pieces. Jota Silva struck the bar with a header when United failed to deal with a free-kick by Murillo. Then Murillo poked a fraction wide from a corner. Yet United deserved the equaliser poached by Hojlund in the 18th minute.
Rasmus Hojlund levelled the scores with a poacher's finish
The Dane might have gone missing after sending a Fernandes cross straight at Forest keeper Matz Sels just a minute after Milenkovic’s opener. But he was in the right place to score only his second Premier League goal of the season after Sels had saved bravely to deny Garnacho.
When Bruno Fernandes sent a sizzling free-kick against the crossbar before the interval, it seemed set-up for a second-half United onslaught towards the Stretford End in the second half. Yet Forest, wearing Sky Blue, emerged to play like prime Manchester City.
The visitors still needed a howler from Onana two minutes in to retake the lead, the Cameroon keeper inexplicably diving past Morgan Gibbs-White’s speculative drive from distance. Six minutes later, the United keeper allowed Chris Wood’s looping header to drop in at the far post.
United looked finished - and would have been had Wood taken either of the two clear chances that came his way before Fernandes set up a grandstand last half-hour by lashing home a spectacular riposte.
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.