Nottingham Forest 0 Man Utd 2 LIVE RESULT: Antony and Dalot inspire United to vital victory in epic top four race
MANCHESTER UNITED have taken a huge step in their quest for Champions League football after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 on the road.
Antony's close-range strike has put the visitors ahead despite a shaky start.
And Diego Dalot sealed the deal with a cool finish late on in the second half.
- RESULT: Forest 0-2 Man Utd
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Forest XI: Navas; Felipe, McKenna, Niakhate; Williams, Danilo, Freuler, Lodi; Gibbs-White; Awoniyi, Johnson
- Man Utd XI: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Casemiro, Fernandes; Antony, Eriksen, Sancho; Martial.
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Chances win matches
Nottingham Forest need to work on their effectiveness in the attacking third of the field this week.
Goals will be the only thing that will save them from being relegated from the Premier League this season.
It will be concerning that they did not have a single shot on target in the game today.
This will be something they will need to work on before they face Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford in their next three games.
Fans show commitment to Forest boss
Despite the defeat today, as the home side left the field, the fans made their feelings known.
They are fully behind their side and also their manager Steve Cooper.
He may be under pressure with the owners but the fans certainly are not demanding any changes at the helm here.
Credit: EPA Seven days to dictate season
On Thursday, United will travel to Spain to face Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Sunday then brings the test of an FA Cup semi-final against in-form Brighton at Wembley.
They will then travel to London to face Tottenham in a game that could really confirm their participation in next season's Champions League competition at the expense of their hosts.
Bruno leads the way for United
Bruno Fernandes showed his true worth to Man Utd with his performance against Nottingham Forest today.
He has been accused of letting his head drop and being a negative influence when things aren't going their way but today was a long way from those performances.
His interplay with Christian Eriksen was the reason why Erik ten Hag's side dominated their opponents at the City Ground.
FT: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
Things are not looking good for Steve Cooper's side as they fail to register a single shot on target in the game.
Their open style means that sides with more attacking threat are going to score goals against them.
When they are creating nothing in the final third, you cannot win football games.
FT: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
It is a convincing win for Man Utd.
Bouncing back after their disappointing midweek draw with Sevilla.
Things are looking ominous for Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
90+4. This game is all but over now as Weghorst is shown a yellow card for an unnecessary foul on Niakhete.
Lashing out with a hand into the player's chest.
Keylor Navas took particular offence to it as he confronts the player.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
90+2. Forest have never really been at the races today.
They look decidedly blunt in attack which is a big concern going into the business end of the season.
Having signed more players than they have autographs this season, it seems they needed a prolific striker more than anything.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
90. Erik ten Hag will be pleased with side's performance today.
A comfortable win and a clean sheet to boot.
This will give them confidence going into their second leg Europa League tie with Sevilla in Spain.
We are going to have four minutes added.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
88. Lingard comes on for Gibbs-White.
Not much time for the ex-Man Utd attacker to have an effect on this game.
Time is running out now for Steve Cooper's side.
Credit: AFP Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
86. Casemiro is penalised for a foul on the halfway line.
You could be forgiven for remembering he was on the pitch as the Brazilian has had a very quiet game today.
Forest's attack breaks down giving the visitors the chance to counter attack.
Sancho receives the ball and cuts into the box but he blazes it over the bar.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
84. Mangala is shown a yellow card for pulling Antony to ground.
United have a free kick in a dangerous position.
Fernandes strikes it, the ball fizzing passed the upright.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
82. This is a big win in the context of Champions League qualification.
Heads will be down even further amongst Tottenham's players.
It is all about game management now for United as a Forest goal may make for a nervy end to the game.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
80. You cannot argue that United are deserving of the points here.
They have dominated possession and created more than enough chances to win this game convincingly.
Only Navas was standing in the way of them doing just that.
Credit: Reuters Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd
78. Man Utd get the goal to put this game beyond Forest.
As they play the ball around it is slotted into the path of Dalot who makes a run into the box.
He composes himself well and slots it passed Keylor Navas.
Eriksen comes off for Fred.
Goal - Diogo Dalot (Man Utd)
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
76. Navas does well to cut out an Antony cross.
He does have a knack of palming the ball back into a dangerous area.
Fortunately for the hosts there are no United players near the loose ball and they are able to clear.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
74. Williams does well to put a teasing ball across the box.
Maguire cannot touch it for fear of putting it in his own net.
As the corner comes in, Felipe heads it over from only a couple of yards out at the near post.
Any less of a contact on that and it was a goal.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
72. Martial is coming off for Weghorst.
Just prior to the change he had a chance to get that elusive second goal and really should have done better.
Much like Fernandes in the first half, he heads wide when it seemed he was destined to score.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
70. The longer it stays at one-nil, Forest are still in this game.
United need to find another goal to kill off the chance of them being hit with the sucker punch.
ten Hag's have had plenty of chances to do just that.
Credit: AP Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
68. Neco Williams is shown a yellow card for a tug of Sancho's shirt.
He took one for the team there as the United winger was away.
Fernandes whips in the free kick but Forest are able to clear their lines.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
66. Surridge comes on for Awoniyi.
Mangala comes on for Freuler.
Steve Cooper looking to freshen things up in the final third now.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
64. The replay shows that there was nothing wrong or any malice in the challenge from Felipe on Fernandes.
From the midfielder's reaction, you would think his career had been put in jeopardy from the tackle.
Bruno Fernandes does come across as a man who isn't happy unless he is whinging about something.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
62. The ball is played to Fernandes on the edge of the box.
He looks to get a shot away and draws a great save from Navas to turn the ball around the post.
Forest are under intense pressure at the moment.
Credit: AP Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
60. Antony cuts inside onto his left foot and looks to bend one into the bottom corner.
It goes inches wide of the far post.
Felipe goes in heavy in a challenge on Fernandes which the Portuguese midfielder is not happy with.
