Erik ten Hag manages to salvage positivity from a tough start against a ten-man Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United 3, Nottingham Forest 2 As Manchester United navigates through the initial phase of the season, there remains a sense of inconsistency and struggle. Despite battling back from a 2-0 deficit, the victory is somewhat overshadowed by the fact that Erik ten Hag’s side allowed such an early setback, conceding two goals within the first four minutes of the game.
Eriksen and B. Fernandes are the two goalscorers for MU in this match.
This points to a vulnerability that should raise concerns for the manager. Ten Hag had an entire previous season to establish a cohesive unit, yet the team still displayed moments of disjointedness that resembled a group of unfamiliar players rather than a cohesive team finding their rhythm.
Man Utd conceded 2 goals in 4 minutes
However, on this occasion, United managed to scrape through.
The winning moment came from the dependable source of Bruno Fernandes. His 76th-minute penalty found the net, beating Matt Turner to the goalkeeper’s right. Marcus Rashford earned the penalty by luring Danilo into a clumsy foul on the edge of the penalty area. Throughout the match, Fernandes displayed remarkable energy and dynamism. In an earlier instance, his well-timed run onto a precise pass from Casemiro forced Joe Worrall to commit a foul, resulting in a red card for Nottingham Forest’s captain and a balanced scoreline of 2-2.
The penalty that win the game for United
A loss or even a draw could have pushed Manchester United into a precarious situation, with just one win from three matches, multiple injuries including the sidelined £72 million striker Rasmus Hojlund, and a sense of impending struggle for the new season.
Moreover, amid the ongoing protests against the Glazer ownership, this day could have been marred by negativity and darkness, emblematic of the post-Ferguson era.
The “Phantom of Glazer” still makes the United struggle
Yet, despite these shadows, Manchester United managed to avoid descending into a crisis. André Onana made a crucial save in the final moments, securing the victory. However, the match’s beginning was nothing short of catastrophic and farcical.
Both of Nottingham Forest’s goals came from set-pieces and were entirely avoidable. The first goal, originating from a United corner, showcased lapses in concentration. Fernandes delivered the corner, which was cleared by Brennan Johnson. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s lackluster challenge on Morgan Gibbs-White allowed Taiwo Awoniyi to capitalize and score from deep within his own half.
The Red Devils came back immediately
The second goal followed a similar pattern, with Gibbs-White’s free-kick finding Willy Boly’s head while Casemiro seemed distracted, allowing his marker to exploit the gap.
However, Manchester United’s resilience came to the forefront as they managed to turn the game around. Quick-paced possession and Christian Eriksen’s first goal of the season narrowed the gap. Anthony Martial’s involvement in Rashford’s play led to Eriksen’s poacher’s finish.
Bruno led MU to the win with his positive energy
As the home crowd’s energy surged, and the chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the visiting fans subsided, Ten Hag’s team showed signs of improvement.
Though rain poured, the energy remained high. Fernandes continued to lead the charge, combining probing runs with astute defensive efforts. Despite some missteps, United’s spirit did not waver.
Ten Hag’s perspective remained optimistic. He emphasized the team’s commitment to their plans and principles, expressing satisfaction with the comeback and the display of composed leadership.
‘We scored good goals.’ – Erik Ten Hag
“We want to give the fans something, eh?” he stated. “Of course, it is a horror start, giving them two goals and making mistakes. But I am very pleased with the comeback, with the leadership, and how we stayed calm and composed. We stick to the plans, stick to the belief, and turn it around, and I think we played in the meantime very good football out of our plan and out of our principles and rules. We scored good goals.”