Premier League: Red Devils Can Test Forest’s Top Four Credentials

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Nottingham Forest’s incredible adventure continues on Tuesday when Manchester United will be the next team to try and derail their Champions League ambitions. 

Nuno Espirito Santo’s hosts are riding high in third place in the top flight while Ruben Amorin’s Red Devils are down in 13^th, but finally looking upwards, and the visitors look certain to give Forest a tougher examination than they would have a few weeks ago.    

Premier League: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United was one of our SBOTOP picks for matches to look out for on the return of domestic football, and the City Ground will be bouncing when the two teams take the field. Forest fans are in dreamland and, while Manchester United supporters have had little to cheer in recent years they remain an irresistible force when they pack the away end wherever they travel. 

While Manchester United have enjoyed a two week break since they beat Leicester City last time out, Forest were in FA Cup action on Saturday away to Brighton and Hove Albion, and they came through a gruelling 120 minutes plus, as keeper Matz Sels was the hero in a penalty shootout win.

So Nuno’s team has a semi-final to look forward to and the games are stacking up, but the pre-match Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United betting odds still make the hosts the favourites to pick up all three points.

 

Talking Points

Elanga can haunt his old mates  

There has been a remarkable transformation at the East Midlands club which sat in 18^th place this time last year with 21 points, compared to the 54 they have already amassed this season. Interestingly, by this stage of last season, the Red Devils had 50 points in their locker and that shows just how well Nuno’s team has done.

Before the international break Forest blew Ipswich Town away with a seven minute three goal blitz inspired by ex Manchester United star Antony Elanga, and he has now scored five goals and eight assists. In his time at Old Trafford Elanga showed plenty of promise, but at a club with a whirlwind turnover of players, many brought in at high cost, the winger didn’t get his chance. Since joining Forest Elanga has shown what an exciting player he can be, with lightning pace, tricky feet and the eye for a killer pass. Alongside Morgan Gibbs- White, who has made seven assists and scored five goals, he has been a constant threat to defences and support to top scorer Chris Wood.

Elanga started on the bench in the FA Cup quarter final and he’ll be a sure starter on Tuesday. In other Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United news, there remains some doubt over Wood, who was forced off during New Zealand’s World Cup qualifier last week and has been nursing a hip injury. The striker, who has scored 18 league goals this season, missed the clash with Brighton and is under observation.      

 

Red Devils confidence is starting to grow

This has been a difficult campaign for Manchester United and their new manager Amorin but, while it is easy for me to say, I would urge the Red Devils ownership to keep faith with their new man and give him plenty of time. Countless bosses have worked their way in and out of Old Trafford since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson and none of them have succeeded. There have been some big names in there too, with proven winners Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal both trying their luck.

The Theatre of Dreams has been a scene of nightmares in recent years but I sense a hint of optimism at the club right now. Amorin has no baggage, and he has already shipped out some of the highly paid players who have chronically underperformed over the last couple of years, and the men remaining at the club seem to have a pride in the shirt. It has certainly showed over the past two outings, a 4-1 hammering of Real Sociedad and a 3-0 stroll against Leicester City. The win over Sociedad was United’s best performance of the campaign so far as skipper Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick. At times the Portuguese star has carried the team, making the most assists, with nine and scoring the most goals, eight, from a midfield position.

The Red Devils will be without long term injuries Amad Diallo and Lisandro Martinez, a loss at either end of the pitch but Amorin has faith in Victor Lindelof at the back; and Alejandro Garnacho, with four goals and two assists, is starting to show a high level of consistency, which is exactly what his manager needs.         

 

History

When the two teams met in December, Forest won 3-2 at Old Trafford and, last season, they won this fixture 2-1. In terms of recent form there is nothing to choose between the two teams who have each won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six outings.    

 

Betting Tip

With Forest priced at 2.15 to win and Manchester United at 2.92 this promises to be a cracking contest, with the draw well in play, and I think we can expect goals in this game…a high scoring stalemate.

   

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