(Football news) After Manchester United was surprised by goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly, Steve Cooper’s team had a great chance to win on the road for the first time in the Premier League since January. However, Christian Eriksen scored to dash their dreams in the second half.
When Casemiro equalised and Joe Worrall was sent for fouling Bruno Fernandes, the momentum was unstoppable. After Danilo fouled Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United captain struck the game-winning penalties. A thrilling victory for Erik ten Hag’s group.
“It is a horror start giving them two goals and of course making mistakes but I am very pleased with the comeback,” said the United head coach afterwards. “There is a good spirit and energy in the team. They found a way to win.”
Manchester United is still having trouble finding its rhythm after three games, but it has won two of those games. Forest squandered the opportunity to accomplish that goal despite their contributions to this enjoyable game. They are still without a victory on the road.
Manchester United’s fragility had been evident in both of their season’s first two games, where they won one and lost the other. However, if any of their followers had any illusions that those problems had been resolved on the practise pitch, they were quickly disabused of them.
Awoniyi raced clear to score the opening goal, which was reminiscent of one Demba Ba scored under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Of all people, Marcus Rashford was the one after him as Andre Onana made a dismal retreat and fell before the striker could even fire.
The Nigerian, who broke Stan Collymore’s record and became the first player to score in a Forest shirt in the history of the league, was the third African player to accomplish it in seven straight Premier League games despite the farcical defence.
The second goal raised similar concerns for Manchester United. The fact that Boly was permitted to meet the header from Morgan Gibbs-White’s right-wing corner somehow made it worse. At that time, the mood inside Old Trafford was dismal.
Eriksen’s goal, a deft flick after Rashford had finally found some space in his preferred left channel, provided some solace. And Casemiro missed the far post with his header after finding himself unmarked and with Matt Turner outmuscled. an observer.
Given how often they bothered their hosts on the counterattack, that would have been unfair on Forest. Their third goal would have been scored before halftime if Gibbs-White had made better passes and Awoniyi had not figured out how to stop his shot.
Instead, in the second half, the game changed back in Manchester United’s favour. Fernandes and Rashford coordinated a free kick well, which allowed the former to find Casemiro. The Brazilian changed this time. As United surged, Forest came under pressure.
Worrall’s dismissal made their situation much more challenging. Boly was offering some protection, but it’s unlikely that he could have outrun Fernandes to the ball if it weren’t for the Forest captain bringing down his Manchester United rival.
The momentum was unstoppable, and Worrall had denied Fernandes the chance when Danilo decided to lunge in on Rashford at the left edge of the penalty area. Turner was not able to stop the Portuguese’s penalty shot. Turnaround is finished.
Cooper will be worried despite all the excellent play. It is a concerning away record, and the fact that they made no claims in a contest in which they effectively had a two goal lead says that they are too vulnerable. Ten Hag might come to similar conclusions for his own team even in a triumph.
Manchester United should be commended for escaping such a difficult circumstance, and it makes sense if Ten Hag likes to highlight the character of his players while match-winner Fernandes speaks of a team that is capable of great things.
When observing Manchester United’s wild performances this season thus far, that is hardly the overwhelming feeling. There was little evidence that these concerns had been heeded today, either in terms of team structure or urgency, as Tottenham punished us for being fortunate against Wolves.
Only Fulham, Luton, Bournemouth, Everton, and Wolves, according to the expected-goals data, have given up more opportunities than United this year. It has not prevented them from earning six out of a possible
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag after the match said, It is a horror start giving them two goals and of course making mistakes but I am very pleased with the comeback. The leadership, how we stayed calm and composed, stuck to the plan, stuck to the belief and turned it around. We played very good football and out of our plan and our rules, we scored very good goals.
“At the start, every team has areas where they need to improve and definitely we also have some. But we have to progress there if we are to be successful. But you can see that this team has good character, good personality. There is a good spirit and energy in the team. They found a way to win.”
Fernandes was crucial to that, United’s outstanding performer. “I think in almost all aspects he played very good game of the highest level. Keeping calm, keeping his emotions under control and at the right moment using his emotions. He was brilliant in attack, making the difference. I was very pleased with his performance.”
