Anthony Elanga scored a thrilling solo goal to tighten Nottingham Forest’s grip on a surprise Champions League place next season and leave Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side languishing in 13th in the Premier League.
The former United forward covered 85 metres of the City Ground pitch in nine seconds, taking seven touches, the last of which was a shot past Andre Onana to give Forest the lead after five minutes.
United, like many teams against Forest this season, had plenty of possession but Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar and Ryan Yates blocked well from Alejandro Garnacho and they could not find a way to level the scores, with Murillo also clearing the ball off the line from Harry Maguire at the death and celebrating in style.
With eight games to go, United are still yet to record back-to-back wins in the Premier League this season.
Here, Carl Anka, Paul Taylor and Conor O’Neill break down the key talking points — and that goal.
How did Elanga tear United apart?
When Bruno Fernandes delivered a corner towards the near post of Matz Sels’ goal, Manchester United only had their mind on taking the lead at the City Ground. But within 16 seconds and eight touches of the ball, it was the home side who emphatically put themselves ahead.
Yates headed clear from inside his own penalty area and when the ball fell to Elanga, he delivered a showcase of not only his speed, but also his strength.
The former United forward is being trailed by Patrick Dorgu and Garnacho, but his first two touches take him over halfway, with United’s Noussair Mazraoui the only outfield player ahead of him.
Elanga has clocked the fifth-fastest speed in the Premier League this season, according to the league’s own figures, and he showed that pace to burst into the United half in only two seconds.
Elanga at one point outpaces the ball and needs to use his fourth touch to drag it from behind him, giving Garnacho the chance to make a tackle.
But the Argentina winger is not strong enough and Elanga rides his challenge and has now also broken clear of Dorgu.
With both United players running back facing their own goal, Morgan Gibbs-White catches up to offer his Forest team-mate a passing option.
But Elanga uses him as a decoy, then squares up Mazraoui…
… before firing a shot into Andre Onana’s bottom left corner for a spectacular goal.
In all, Elanga had covered 85 metres in nine seconds, according to the game’s UK broadcaster, TNT Sports, taking seven touches on his run. It was the 22-year-old Swede’s sixth Premier League goal this season — and his third in two games following his double away against Ipswich Town on March 15.
But few of those have demonstrated so perfectly what the former United winger is about, as he carried the ball the length of the City Ground pitch, at something close to full speed, without ever looking as though he would lose control of it for a second.
Paul Taylor
Who should have stopped him?
Rarely does a press conference go by without Amorim mentioning United’s physicality. His Sporting CP side were known for their impressive array of sprinters, shin kickers and space manipulators, and if he is to ever be a success in his new job at Old Trafford, it will be leading a United team much taller, stronger and nastier than this current one.
Elanga’s goal was a painful reminder of how much further United need to improve in this regard. Garnacho got closest to stopping his former Old Trafford team-mate, but halting the Swede in full flight and at top momentum is a difficult task. Forest have been the bigger, faster and stronger side in the match on many an occasion this season. United have some catching up to do if they are to avoid getting bullied by the league’s increasingly talented middle class and beyond.
The Sweden international opted for a muted celebration, in respect of his seven years spent developing in United’s academy and his performances in their first team in the 2021-22 season. It was a goal rich in narrative, kickstarting a conversation as to whether United were right to sell the then 21-year-old to Forest for £15million in July 2023.
Like many things with United, the answer is complicated. When Elanga departed, there was an appreciation at the club for his phenomenal physical talents but reservations over how he would parlay those skills into breaking down stubborn defences. Elanga on the counter-attack running into open space can be devastating, but it was of less use in a United team that had expectations to dominate possession during games.
Unfortunately for United, Elanga’s supposed successors/upgrades on the United right (Jadon Sancho and Antony) have failed to add to the team creatively, and the squad as a whole have regressed in terms of the physicality that has become a trademark of their former player and Forest as a whole.
There’s no buy-back clause on the deal that saw Elanga swap Old Trafford for the City Ground, but the United forward who eventually settles into a role on the right of Amorim’s attack long-term will likely have some of his physicality.
Carl Anka
How close are Forest to Champions League qualification?
Over the past 20 seasons, the average points total required to secure fifth place in the Premier League has been 63.4. The lowest tally to do so in that period was 59, which has happened on four occasions, and the highest was 70, in 2013-14 and 2016-17.
The significance of this stat is that it provides a target of sorts for Forest as they look to secure European football for the first time in three decades. This season, a top-five finish is likely to be enough to secure Champions League football.
Following this win, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have 57 points with eight games left to play. So in theory, they require only another seven points from the 24 still to play for.
The target might realistically be a little higher this season, with every team in the top half of the table probably still believing they have at least a small chance of qualifying to play in Europe in 2025-26.
But this was a victory that edged two-time European champions Forest another step closer to banishing the memory of their successive fights against Premier League relegation in the previous two seasons, by securing a place back among UEFA’s elite.
Paul Taylor
What was Fernandes’ role?
Nominally starting as United’s left-sided No 10, Fernandes was given the freedom to drift across the pitch and influence play wherever he could. Amorim alluded to this fluidity pre-match, saying that “Bruno is everywhere”.
The breadth of that remit was evident from the outset. Early on, when Dalot whipped in a cross, it was Fernandes who arrived as the lone presence in the box, meeting it with a soft header.
Later in the first half, Fernandes even dropped into the left wing-back position to cover for Dorgu as he moved inside with the ball. Moments later, he popped up on the opposite flank, where he was penalised for a foul on Yates.
While Fernandes’ fluid positioning allowed him to link play neatly in various areas, relying on him as the primary creative force across the entire pitch was a big ask, with United’s structure often appearing disjointed as a result.
Amorim responded at the break, replacing Manuel Ugarte with Rasmus Hojlund and shifting Fernandes back into the No 6 role he has more commonly occupied since the Portuguese coach was appointed last November.
Forest’s energetic, robust midfield may explain why Amorim was initially hesitant to play Fernandes in his usual position. With Casemiro replaced by Christian Eriksen in the second half, United lacked a strong physical presence in midfield and Fernandes struggled to fend off Forest’s aggression in those deeper areas. Even so, the switch did allow him to showcase his impressive range of passing, most notably with a brilliant long ball from deep that picked out Garnacho in behind.
Fernandes is undoubtedly United’s most gifted creative outlet, yet it seems Amorim still hasn’t quite figured out where exactly on the pitch is best for channelling his talent.
Conor O’Neill
How much of a worry is Aina’s injury?
Ola Aina is the only Forest outfield player to have started every Premier League game this season. And it is no exaggeration to say he has performed well in almost every one of them — the Nigeria international has been among Forest’s most reliable, consistent performers.
So the sight of him pulling up off the ball, before collapsing to the ground in pain, not far from the home technical area, will not have been a welcome one for Nuno.
It looked as though the versatile full-back had picked up a calf problem of some kind and, after a brief discussion with Forest’s physio staff, he limped off down the tunnel.
It could leave Forest with a problem away to Aston Villa on Saturday, where the on-loan Alex Moreno — who came off the bench to replace Aina in the 39th minute tonight — will not be eligible to play against his parent club.
Beyond that, if Aina does not return before the end of the month, it could also be a significant issue in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley, a match where another of Nuno’s full-backs, Neco Williams, will be suspended.
For many reasons, Forest will hope that Aina’s injury is not a serious one.
Paul Taylor
Did United look like scoring?
Facing a home team boasting a resolute defence and bold counter-attacking threat, Amorim mixed things up with his selection.
Joshua Zirkzee was chosen to lead the line instead of Hojlund and Fernandes played as a No 10 rather than in central midfield as he had in previous weeks. Casemiro joined Ugarte in a midfield pivot that looked to go tackle for tackle with Forest counterparts Yates and Elliot Anderson.
“It is tactically a reason,” said Amorim of the centre-forward swap. “We tried to look at the opponent and tried to find the best qualities to win the game. We try to pick the best XI to win the game.”
The plan didn’t work. United dominated possession (69%-31%) and the total shot count (10-3) in the first half, but didn’t have the same attacking threat as Forest when the home side broke at speed. Amorim’s response was to take Ugarte off for Hojlund at half-time, with Zirkzee dropping to the No 10 position alongside Garnacho, and Fernandes pairing Ugarte.
A yellow card for Casemiro in the 50th minute saw him tweak things further. Eriksen came on for the Brazilian in the 59th minute and United went all in in search of an equaliser. It was better, but Amorim’s bold decisions from the dugout were not matched by his players’ execution in the final third.
Forest are happy conceding possession and generally give away fewer chances when they see less of the ball.
In the graphic below, Tuesday’s fixture is represented by the second United badge from the left. It shows that Nuno’s side have had below 35 per cent possession in both games against United this season, but Amorim’s men have failed to register an xG higher than 1.7 in either match.
Hojlund again had troubles with his first touch across the second half, making it difficult for him to hold the ball up and have team-mates support him. By the 75th minute, Garnacho had accumulated three shots off-target and two more blocked. His ability to find space in the final third outstrips that of both Hojlund and Zirkzee. His ability to adequately exploit it in the form of goals can frustrate.
Amorim would make a further change in the 77th minute, bringing on Mason Mount for Zirkzee. His impact was near-immediate, going wide with a curling effort from the edge of the box. The 88th minute saw centre-back Maguire introduced as an emergency striker, on for Leny Yoro.
United’s attempts to outpunch the iron-jawed Forest didn’t quite work out. A Manchester derby now awaits at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Carl Anka
What did Nuno say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Amorim say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Forest?
Saturday, April 5: Aston Villa (Away), Premier League, 5.30pm UK, 12.30pm ET
What next for United?
Sunday, April 6: Manchester City (Home), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
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Nottingham Forest
Manchester United
(Top photo: TNT Sports)
