On a roll: Man United are putting pressure on the top four
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Before Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, Erik ten Hag confirmed the club’s January pursuit of a striker.
In Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, however, the United boss at least has players capable of keeping their Champions League push alive.
Rashford returned from a prolific World Cup with a brilliant goal to open the scoring in a move straight out of Carrington. Christian Eriksen drove a low corner into the England international’s path, who latched onto it with aplomb after easily evading the traffic desperately defending the box.
Fewer than four minutes later, Martial doubled the lead. Casemiro – who must already be United’s best midfield signing in years – started the searing sweep up-field with a brilliant tackle to rob Forest by his own corner flag and the ball found its way to Bruno Fernandes on the counter. The Portugal international then hit a wonderful long pass over to Rashford, who cut inside his defender and teed up Martial to power one through Wayne Hennessey’s grasp.
The home side did survive a VAR check five minutes before half-time when an offside Willy Boly deflected Ryan Yates’ header past David De Gea, denying Forest of only their second away goal this season.
While better finishing may well have inflated the scoreline, this was an exciting United performance. More goals would have been the icing on the cake, but ten Hag’s side looked dangerous on almost every attack. Antony, Rashford and Martial were all guilty of wasting good chances, which kept the threat of an unlikely comeback lingering.
The remote threat of a Forest turnaround was ended four minutes before full-time as the classy Casemiro found Fred after winning possession, with his compatriot firing in a third.
Until that point, Forest had enjoyed slightly more of the ball after the break but rarely did it seem like Steve Cooper’s side would truly threaten. Set-pieces proved their only avenue and none could match the danger Renan Lodi’s caused for Yates’ header before the break.
Ten Hag has constantly spoken of a long-term plan at Old Trafford. There will be harder tests of course but, with a striker potentially to come next month, United look to be forming it.
