Nottingham Forest 0 Man Utd 2 LIVE RESULT: Antony and Dalot inspire United to vital victory in epic top four race

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

19. United break at pace and Antony finds himself inside the box.

Being so one-footed, he struggles to work a shooting chance.

It breaks to Fernandes who thunders a shot towards goal, bringing a great save from Keylor Navas.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

17. United are dealing with the aerial threat of the hosts.

De Gea comes out to punch clear.

Niakhate tries a shot from distance but it goes well wide.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

15. Neither side seem capable of keeping possession currently.

Both are opting for a more direct attacking mode.

This seems to suit Forest more as they play this way all the time.

Antony tries a shot from outside of the box and it is high, wide and not very handsome.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

13. It is a packed-house at the City Ground today.

The home fans are making themselves heard and creating a cauldron of noise when they come forward.

United need to find a way to silence these fans.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

11. It has been a lively start by both teams.

This game is finely poised as they go in search of the opening goal.

Brennan Johnson is down and in need of medical attention.

He is back on his feet and seems able to continue.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

9. De Gea seems to limping somewhat.

ten Hag gets Jack Butland to start warming up as a precautionary measure.

Fernandes whips a cross in and Felipe heads it just over his own crossabar.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

7. Big chance for Forest as Johnson's flick on finds Awoniyi.

He looks to stroke the ball home but it is blocked by Wan-Bissaka.

Both sides close to opening the scoring here.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

5. That gives Forest a chance to run at the United centre back now.

Any mistake from Maguire could see him get his marching orders.

The hosts loft a free kick towards the box but it is headed clear.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

3. Navas did well to block that shot with his foot.

Maybe Fernandes needed to lift the effort more.

Big chance for the visitors to take the lead early on there.

Harry Maguire picks up a yellow card for hauling a player to ground.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

1. United look to press from the off.

Sancho overruns the ball and the hosts win the ball back.

They lose it again and United come forward, the keeper gets a hand to a cross but the ball drops to Fernandes.

His shot is blocked but that was a big chance for the midfielder.

First goal key to game

With both sides having suffered a dent to confidence and form of late, the first goal of the game today is even more important.

If the hosts get it, United's reshuffled defence could crumble.

Should the visitors get it, the pressure mounts on both Nottingham Forest and their manager.

United with potential injury concerns

Man Utd had a nightmare in the week with two key players falling foul to injuries.

It seems that goalscorer Marcel Sabitzer may have picked up an injury in the warm up today at the City Ground.

While this has yet to be confirmed, it would no doubt mean Christian Eriksen slotting into the starting line-up.

Forest needing change of fortunes

Having lost four of their last five league games, Nottingham Forest currently occupy the third relegation place, although Everton are only above them on goal difference.

However, they have only lost one of their last eleven Premier League games at the City Ground.

They are looking to set a new club record of scoring in fourteen consecutive Premier League games at home.

History favours Red Devils

Man Utd have won their last nine fixtures against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

They have scored at least three goals in each of their last six league games against today's opponents.

Forest are on a run of nine league games without victory, the last time they had such a run it was ended by a 1-0 victory against Liverpool.

ten Hag looking for cutting edge

As he arrives at the ground looking like the latest addition to the cast of Peaky Blinders, the Dutch manager will be looking for a clinical touch to his team today.

All too often they have invited sides back into games that they should have put to bed.

With a huge opportunity to all but guarantee Champions League football next season, three points are key.

Man Utd subs:

31. Butland, 63. Jurado, 33. Williams, 14. Eriksen, 17. Fred, 28. Pellistri, 55. Iqbal, 36. Elanga, 27. Weghorst

Man Utd starting XI:

Erik ten Hag makes three changes from the side that drew with Sevilla, all in defence, with Varane, Martinez and Malacia all departing from the starting line-up.

1. De Gea, 29. Wan-Bissaka, 2. Lindelof, 5. Maguire, 20. Dalot, 18. Casemiro, 8. Fernandes, 21. Antony, 15. Sabitzer, 25. Sancho, 9. Martial

Nottingham Forest subs:

13. Hennessey, 4. Worrall, 5. Mangala, 6. Shelvey, 11. Lingard, 15. Toffolo, 16. Surridge, 25. Dennis, 34. A Ayew

Nottingham Forest starting XI:

Steve Cooper makes some enforced changes due to further injuries for the visit of Man Utd to the City Ground.

12. Navas, 38. Felipe, 26. McKenna, 19 Niakhate, 7. N Williams, 23. Freuler, 28. Danilo, 32. Lodi, 10. Gibbs-White, 9. Awoniyi, 20. Johnson

Cut-throat world of football

Only a month ago, Steve Cooper was being linked to the vacant Tottenham job as Forest were sitting closer to mid-table than the troubled bottom three.

Fast-forward to the present day and the Welsh manager finds himself under intense pressure and scrutiny.

While the owner has given him his backing, this often acts like loading a bullet into the chamber of a gun.

Cooper needs results, quickly.

Latest match odds

Here are the latest odds on today's game brought to you by .

Nottingham Forest - 15/4

Draw - 31/10

Manchester United - 4/6

City Ground needing top flight style

After the owners huge investment in the squad since returning to the Premier League, survival is now key.

The fans have craved a return to the top flight and nobody wants to be a yo-yo club.

Their destiny is still in their own hands but there is no time for finding form and that starts today with Man Utd.

Red Devils need culture change

Lately, Man Utd have acquired a knack of being able to hit the self-destruct button when all seems to be going well.

Against Sevilla in the Europa League in midweek, they were 2-0 up and cruising with the visitors not looking like scoring a goal all evening.

Then suddenly, two own goals later, the Spanish side saw themselves leaving Manchester with a 2-2 draw.

United with chance to cement top four

After Tottenham’s surprise defeat at home against Bournemouth, Man Utd have a real chance of sealing their spot in the top four.

With Champions League football a must for big clubs, victory would see them move six points clear fifth place with a game in hand.

It adds more importance to the game this afternoon but with Forest battling for their Premier League lives, this will be no easy task for the Dutch manager’s side.