Man Utd 2-0 Nottingham Forest: Anthony Martial and Fred goals give Red Devils win to reach League Cup final
Manchester United booked their place in the League Cup final, beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Old Trafford and 5-0 on aggregate after goals from Anthony Martial and Fred.
With both sides knowing the tie was effectively over, the first half took a while to get going, but as Forest grew in confidence the game intensified.
Brennan Johnson ought to have given them the lead on 34 minutes, shooting against Tom Heaton when in on goal, and on 43, Emmanuel Dennis shot against Sam Surridge when he too should have scored. In the final minute of the half, Wout Weghorst headed against the post, so the teams went to the interval goalless.
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In the second half, though, United’s class told, the introduction of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial giving them fresh impetus.
Martial put the tie beyond even minor doubt in the 73rd minute shortly after coming on, then a fine goal from Fred thre minutes later gave United a 5-0 aggregate win and set up a final against Newcastle on February 26 at Wembley.
United’s last trophy was the Europa League in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
TALKING POINT
It is impossible not to be reliant on a player as good as Bruno Fernandes because that reliance is what makes a player that good. But where he has carried the team for three years, United now have others to take up the slack.
But the fact remains that during his time at the club, there’s been no real alternative to him and his workload has led to periods during which he’s looked tired. Well, perhaps Erik ten Hag has a new idea, because when Jadon Sancho was sent on tonight, it was to play through the middle.
This makes some sense. Sancho doesn’t quite have the power or pace to beat men on the outside – though perhaps, now fitter, he might improve in that aspect. Either way, though, he has the touch and imagination to conjure space and angles in tighter central areas, and he can also finish. Now United have so many wide options, perhaps his future is as an attacking midfielder.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) His team’s leader, heartbeat and best player, some of his attacking invention was inspired.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: Heaton 7, Wan-Bissaka 6, Varane 7, Martinez 6, Shaw 6, Casemiro 7, Fred 7, Fernandes 8, Antony 6, Weghorst 6, Garnacho 6. Subs: Sancho 7, Rashford 7, Martial 7, Maguire 6, Lindelof 6.
Nottingham Forest: Hennessey 6, Williams 6, McKenna 5, Boly 6, Lodi 5, Dennis 6, Mangala 6, Freuler 6, Scarpa 6, Johnson 6, Surridge 5. Subs: Aurier 6, Mighten 6, Danilo 6, Hammond 6, Osong 6.
KEY STAT
Manchester United have won their last 12 home games in all competitions, their longest winning run at Old Trafford during a single season since their 17 game run from December 2010 until May 2011.
KEY MOMENTS
Forest have been waiting for this! Scarpa does well to take the ball from a throw and, from the side of the box, bursts between Martinez and Casemiro … and he’s in! But his eyes light up and rather than take a split-second to evaluate, he immediately punches a shot straight at Heaton. What a chance that was!
43’ – NOW FOREST COUNTER!
Johnson, who’s been dangerous, scoots around Casemiro and his cross is deflected, flopping into Dennis’ path! This should be 1-0 on the night … but the goalbound shot his Surridge! This is not Nottingham Forest’s tie, I’m afraid.
45’ – ANTONY GETS AROUND THE OUTSIDE
He needs to do that more often. He can’t make anything happen, though, so lays back to Casemiro, who unfurls a delectable first-time cross and Weghorst is up! He makes a good connection too, heading down … only for the ball to come back off the base of the far post! That was fine play from all concerned, but for no reward.
61’ – SUPERB FROM UNITED
Casemiro finds Bruno who finds Garnacho and he diddles Williams down the outside, then lashes a shot that Hennessey saves at his near post. Then, immediately afterwards, Bruno leaps into a challenge with Johnson, wins the ball clean, and Garnacho races in to nobble him from behind, completely accidentally.
73’- GOAL! Manchester United (4) 1-0 (0) Nottingham Forest (Martial) Ha! A terrific first-time, Roy Keane pass from Casemiro meets a poor ball from Boly, Martial dashes towards the box, and short-changes Rashford, his delivery too weak. But Rashford’s shot is deflected over to him, and he finishes well. He needed that, and United are going to Wembley.
76’ – GOAL! Manchester United (5) 2-0 (0) Nottingham Forest (Fred) This is what happens when you can bring class players off the bench when opponents are tiring. Sancho finds Bruno outside the box, and he arcs a frankly ill cross to the far post with the outside of his right boot … allowing Rashford to square athletically, and Fred, making a third-man run, to flicks home.
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