I’ve got no idea how Man United won this game. Despite going down 2-0 within the first four minutes of the match, Man United somehow was able to pull off a 2-goal comeback to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2 to move withing the Top-6.
United won’t make the Top-4 if they keep playing like this throughout the rest of the year.
Manchester United once again pulled off an undeserved victory after playing utterly dreadful as they beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 to not only comeback from being down 2-0, but also somehow sit within the Top-6 of the Premier League despite playing like literal garbage. And, even though I’m happy United won as a fan, this team is going to burst once they come up against really tough opponents.
How in God’s name do you not only go down 2-0 to a Nottingham Forest side that just barely survived relegation last season, but also you went down 2-0 within the OPENING FOUR MINUTES OF THE MATCH! Well, if you don’t know, you can just ask these Manchester United players as that’s exactly what they did to start off the game.
First from their own corner when Forest cleared the ball and Taiwo Awoniyi brushed past Marcus Rashford (who was somehow the lone defender at the midfield center circle) to wait out Andre Onana and put Forest up 1-0, and then Willy Boly headed home a Forest’s second goal in as many minutes from the first from free kick right to give them a 2-0 lead AT OLD TRAFFORD.
Yes, this game took place AT OLD TRAFFORD, and it would be an understatement to say that the United fans in attendance were beyond shocked.
I just don’t know why, after nearly a half decade of playing for the team and/or at least suiting up for 100 appearances for the club, these players can’t get motivated for big games as this was easily the biggest game of the season to date.
After just NARROWLY beating Wolves 1-0 in the opener and getting trounced by a Tottenham side who lost club icon Harry Kane a few days prior 2-0, you’d think experienced guys like Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Christan Eriksen, and Anthony Martial would have gotten this team fired up and ready to pounce on a weakened Forest team, right?
Well, evidently not as Forest were the ones with the fire and passion to take charge of the game and go up 2-0.
And, despite United having a lion’s share of the ball (67%), double the amount of shots by the end of the match (18 vs. 9), more than double the amount of shots on target (9 vs. 4), double the amount of completed passes (625 vs. 301), a substantially better passing completion percentage (86% vs. 71%), and triple the number of corners (11 vs. 3), I thought Forest were going to hold firm, shut up shop with all eleven guys behind the ball, rely on Matt Turner (who played fantastic today with 6 saves) to keep the United strikers at bay, and win this game 2-0 or 3-1.
I know guys like Rashford, Fernandes, Eriksen, and Casemiro decided to show up after the opening two goals that lead to Eriksen’s tap in strike on the 17th minute mark, but Man United just really didn’t create all that much for the rest of the half…aside from Casemiro missing AN EMPTY NET JUST 2 YARDS OUT!
But, thankfully for me and all United fans, my worries were put to rest as the midfield trio of Fernandes, Eriksen, and Casemiro really started to boss the game and push Forest’s defense and midfield to their limits, which allowed Fernandes and Rashford to link up within the 6-yard box that saw Casemiro finish off the movement with a goal in the 52nd minute.
And after Antony nearly bent a shot into the far corner in the 53rd minute (Turner made another really good save) and Forest’s Joe Worral was sent off for denying Bruno a one vs. one in the 63rd minute, United finally found the go-ahead goal through Marcus Rashford’s brilliance down the lefthand side.
He masterfully went around Danilo and was about to cross the ball to a plethora of United players waiting to pounce within the United box but was tripped up and fouled by Danilo to give Man United a penalty kick with just 15 minutes left. And, as he always does, Bruno Fernandes stepped up and buried the ball to Turner’s right-hand side to complete the 2-goal comeback and win the game for United.
I know Forest did end up losing a 2-goal lead and got pretty much obliterated in the final 45 minutes of the match, but they should be very happy with the first half of their performance. They won’t be facing off against the likes of Man United every week and scoring 2 goals against their relegation rivals, such as Everton, Wolves, Fulham, Luton, Burnley, and Bournemouth, within the opening four minutes of the match should see them through to victory.
As for Man United, this was a lucky result. That’s all.
If they play this bad against the likes of City, Arsenal, Brighton, Liverpool, or Chelsea, they’ll get crushed 5-0 within the blink of an eye. This team NEEDS TO WAKE UP and realize the season has started before it’s too late and they find themselves sitting in 7th place in January.
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