Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United: Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Burno Fernandes put United on cusp of final

Yet another fantastic goal from Marcus Rashford set Manchester United up for a 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest in the League Cup semi-final, first leg.

The pulsating atmosphere in the City Ground was punctured when Rashford collected the ball 60 yards from goal and raced down the line before turning inside two defenders, moving into the area and side-footing home.

Forest finally gave their fans something to cheer about as they got back into the game midway through the half and should have levelled the scores in the 23rd minute when Morgan Gibbs-White ran 50 yards down the field before squaring to Sam Surridge who slotted inside the corner of the net. However, VAR cruelly ruled the striker had moved slightly offside before the ball was played to him.

The hosts played well until the stroke of half time when Wout Weghorst added a second, his first for United, after Antony’s effort was saved by Wayne Hennessey in the Forest goal.

The second half was a less exciting affair, with the mood taken down further amongst the home fans 17 minutes from time when Gibbs-White limped off with an injury Steve Cooper will dearly hope is not serious.

The tie was then virtually put beyond Forest when Fred set up Bruno Fernandes to drill home a minute from time.

TALKING POINT

Weg worth his weight – He may not seem a centre forward worthy of the legacy of Denis Law, Eric Cantona or compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, but Wout Weghorst already looks like he fits in this Manchester United side. With the incredible form of Marcus Rashford at present, goals are not at a premium for United, but the time will come when the Red Devils need scrappy goals and the Dutchman is a man who can provide this. In addition to this, the combination of his ability to physically compete with centre backs and willingness to run behind and wide of them means United will not become a side clubs can comfortably let play in front of them, as has been the case at times in recent seasons.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) – He played less than an hour, but once more he was the star on show. His goal was superb and throughout his time on the field his silky touches brought fellow players into play and had Forest back-pedalling furiously. There is strong competition, but there is probably no more in-form player in England at present.

PLAYER RATINGS

Nottingham Forest: Hennessey 6; Aurier 5, Worrall 5, McKenna 5, Renan Lodi 6; Freuler 6, Danilo 7, Scarpa 7; Gibbs-White 7, Johnson 6, Surridge 5.

Subs: Colback 6, Lingard 6, Dennis 6, Williams 6, O’Brien 6.

Manchester United: De Gea 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 6, Martinez 7, Malacia 6; Casemiro 7, Eriksen 7; Antony 7, Bruno Fernandes 8, Rashford 8*; Weghorst 7.

Subs: Garnacho 7, Pellistri 7, Fred 7, Elanga 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

6′ GOAL FOR UNITED! What a goal from Rashford. He collected the ball inside his onw half and raced down the left flank before waltzing through attempted challenges from Aurier and Morrell and slotting the ball inside the near post.

8′ ANTONY SHOOTS FROM EDGE OF BOX! And it was only a yard wide of the far post with the Forest keeper beaten.

23′ GOAL FOR FOREST! Now the stadium is alive. United overcommitted going forward and Gibbs-White carried the ball 50 yards down the field before slipping the ball wide for Surridge who slotted home. But it may be offside…

24′ GOAL DISALLOWED! Surridge really shouldn’t have been offside there. It was only a fraction but what a relief for United.

45′ GOAL FOR UNITED! Disaster for Forest! Wegorst gets his first goal for United. Antony shoots well from the edge of the box which Hennessey just about stops but the Dutch striker is there to strike home the rebound.

55′ ERIKSEN HITS THE BAR! Antony squared to him 25 yards from goal and his curling effort comes back off the crossbar. Rashford shoots on the follow-up by Hennessey saves.

89′ GOAL FOR UNITED! Bruno Fernandes drills home from the edge of the box after Fred scooped a ball across the box to him.

KEY STAT

• 10 – Marcus Rashford has scored ten goals in ten games since the World Cup.