Manchester United’s struggles deepened after a costly defensive performance handed Nottingham Forest a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim’s side, facing criticism for their defensive frailties, once again conceded goals stemming from set pieces and individual errors, highlighting ongoing concerns about the team’s organization and resilience.
The match began disastrously for United when a second-minute corner from Elliot Anderson exposed their vulnerabilities. Nikola Milenkovic, left unmarked, easily nodded the ball past a static André Onana. This was the third goal conceded from a set piece in two matches, underscoring a critical area of concern for Amorim. The coach took full responsibility for these shortcomings, acknowledging the need to improve the team’s set-piece organization.
Despite this early setback, United managed to equalize through Rasmus Højlund, who capitalized on a well-threaded ball from Manuel Ugarte. The Danish forward had earlier squandered a golden opportunity but redeemed himself by converting after Alejandro Garnacho’s initial effort was blocked. United appeared in control for stretches of the first half but failed to capitalize on their dominance, with Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes both coming close without finding the net.
Forest regained the lead early in the second half through Morgan Gibbs-White. The goal stemmed from a misplaced pass by Fernandes, which allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to feed Gibbs-White. His strike, while curling slightly, was one Onana might have been expected to save, but the goalkeeper’s poor positioning proved costly. Moments later, Forest struck again. A deep cross to the back post was met by Chris Wood, whose header went unchecked by United’s backline. Onana, along with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, failed to deal with the danger, leaving United with a mountain to climb.
Amorim responded by introducing Marcus Rashford for Garnacho, and the change had an immediate impact. Fernandes delivered a sublime pass to Amad Diallo, whose clever return allowed the Portuguese midfielder to finish brilliantly, reducing the deficit to 3-2. With over 30 minutes remaining, United pushed for an equalizer, bringing on Joshua Zirkzee to join Rashford and Højlund in a reshaped attack. However, despite their efforts, the final ball lacked precision, and Forest’s disciplined defending held firm.
The match highlighted persistent issues for United, particularly their vulnerability at set pieces and inconsistency in attack. While Amorim emphasized bespoke selections tailored to opponents, his decisions to leave Rashford and Zirkzee out of the starting lineup raised eyebrows, especially given their influential performances in the previous 4-0 victory over Everton. The inability to replicate that form in subsequent matches has placed added scrutiny on Amorim’s tactics and decision-making.
Onana’s struggles continued to be a focal point. Signed as an elite goalkeeper, his performances have not yet matched expectations, with key errors undermining United’s defensive efforts. Similarly, the high-profile defensive duo of Martínez and De Ligt, along with debutant Leny Yoro, were repeatedly outmaneuvered in aerial duels, leaving United exposed.
In attack, while Højlund showed flashes of quality, his missed opportunities underscored a lack of clinical finishing that has plagued the team this season. Garnacho and Fernandes created chances, but the cutting edge needed to secure a result was missing. The reliance on late substitutions to inject creativity and energy further emphasized United’s struggles to assert themselves earlier in games.
The defeat leaves United at a crossroads, with Amorim tasked with addressing multiple challenges simultaneously. Improving set-piece organization, solidifying defensive cohesion, and finding a consistent attacking rhythm are all critical to reversing the team’s fortunes. As frustrations grow among fans and pressure mounts, the coming weeks will be pivotal for Amorim’s tenure and United’s season.
