Manchester United moved up to third in the Premier League with a routine 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest, strengthening their grip on a Champions League qualifying spot.
Erik ten Hag’s side were kicking themselves on Thursday night after blowing a two-goal lead at home to Sevilla in their Europa League quarter-final first leg but after domestic results went their way on Saturday they didn’t make the same mistake here, capitalising at the City Ground to boost their chances of a top-four finish.
Antony scored the opener from close range (32) and then rolled in Diogo Dalot (76) for the second after the impressive Bruno Fernandes had seen a shot pushed onto the bar, with the dominant win moving United six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand and just eight fixtures remaining.
Forest have now lost 10 times in a row to Man Utd across all competitions, including four times this season – but it could have been different had a VAR call gone in their favour in the first half. They will feel hard done by for not being awarded a penalty with the scores at 0-0 when the ball struck an arm of the nervy Harry Maguire in the box.
There were good chances in the opening 45 for Taiwo Awoniyi, too, with one shot cleared off the line and another blazed over the bar, before Scott McKenna forced the ball onto a post. Felipe then headed over from two yards in the second half just before Dalot’s clincher.
But Forest are now without a win in 10 and remain third-bottom. They are in the relegation zone instead of Everton because of goal difference.
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Antony pounces on the rebound to give Manchester United the lead against Nottingham Forest.
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Diogo Dalot extends the lead for Manchester United, after Keylor Navas had kept the home side in the game with a number of saves.
How Man Utd made it 10 wins in a row vs Forest…
Man Utd won 8-1 on their last league visit to the City Ground in February 1999 and it looked like struggling Forest could be on the end of another heavy defeat when Felipe had to block a Jadon Sancho shot near his own goal-line inside a minute.
However, Forest responded well and Awoniyi saw his own goal-bound effort blocked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka just a few minutes later. They should have had a penalty on 19 minutes, too, when a corner came down on Maguire’s arm inside the six-yard box – but VAR found in the visitors’ favour.
Harry Maguire survived handball appeals against him in the first half
It would have capped a miserable start to the game for Maguire, who had been booked for hauling down Awoniyi and sent a pass straight of play, and he was involved again when Forest hit the post from another corner. The ball flicked off the United captain and then McKenna’s arm and onto the frame of the goal – although it would most likely have been ruled out had it gone in.
For all their positive forward play, Forest fell behind just after the half-hour when Anthony Martial won the ball high up the pitch, combined with the excellent Fernandes and then Antony turned in the Frenchman’s parried shot. It was the Brazilian’s fourth league goal of the season and a familiar feeling for a Forest side with the second-worst defensive record in the division.
Awoniyi and Fernandes – playing in an advanced role after Marcel Sabitzer was injured in the warm-up – both blew good chances to get on the scoresheet themselves late on in what had been an open first-half.
The action continued after the break with, Keylor Navas pushing a fierce Fernandes effort onto the bar before saving a drive from the Portuguese low to his right.
United were camped around the Forest box for long periods and would finish the game with 22 shots to their hosts’ six. But with the advantage at just one, Forest were still in the contest and should have levelled when Felipe nodded a corner over from close range.
Dalot came up with the game-ending second soon after, marking his 100th appearance for United with a tidy finish for his first Premier League goal after Antony’s dribble and through ball.
What’s next?
Nottingham Forest face a trip to Liverpool on Saturday April 22; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Man Utd are back in action on Thursday when they face a trip to Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final; kick-off 8pm.
After that, United have an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to look forward to. They face Brighton on Sunday April 23; kick-off 4.30pm.
Their next Premier League game is against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday April 27; kick-off 8.15pm.
Nottingham Forest’s remaining fixtures
April 22: Liverpool (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 26: Brighton (H) – Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
April 29: Brentford (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 8: Southampton (H) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 13: Chelsea (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Arsenal (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Crystal Palace (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
Man Utd’s remaining fixtures
April 20: Sevilla (A) – Europa League, kick-off 8pm
April 22: Brighton (N) – FA Cup semi-final, kick-off 3pm
April 27: Tottenham (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8:15pm
April 30: Aston Villa (H) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 4: Brighton (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 7: West Ham (A) – Premier League, kick-off 7pm
May 13: Wolves (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Bournemouth (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Fulham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
TBA: Chelsea (H) – Premier League