Nottingham Forest F.C Vs United: FA Cup Preview

Another away day, another banana skin for Manchester United. This time, it’s a fixture we have already seen overwhelm the Reds last December. A chance to make amends? Or will history repeat itself?

United travel down to the City Ground to face Nuno Espírito Santo’s Nottingham Forest, this time in the 5th round of the FA Cup. United will want revenge for the unfortunate 2-1 defeat they faced before the New Year.

The City Ground is a heated little stadium but Forest have not been as strong at home as they were last season, which is a big reason they are currently facing the very real danger of relegation while hanging off the drop zone in 17th of the Premier League. Of course, form goes out the window in a cup game (unless you’re Chelsea in a domestic final) but there is a good chance for United to exploit Forest’s’ weakness if the Reds don’t get overwhelmed by the mounting pressures of their own poor performances of late.

Of course, United themselves are not immune to a humiliating loss at home; losing in a very limp 2-1 to Fulham, at Old Trafford no less, in a manner that has increased the pressure on both the Manager and the players with serious questions being asked about whether Erik ten Hag is really the man to take United back to the gory days.

United will be looking to make a strong statement against Forest tomorrow to silence the growing doubters

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS

Erik ten Hag has revealed that Casemiro, who sustained a cut on his head during the Fulham match and had to be substituted, will be available for selection. Rasmus Hojlund will be joining the United Injured F.C for a brief couple of weeks, alongside the likes of Aaron wan Bissaka, Luke Shaw, and long-term injured signings Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia, and Anthony Martial (shock).

Amad Diallo looked very promising and sharp in his 19-minute cameo off the bench against Fulham and in the current dire state of United’s attack, seems to be the only player who knows what keeping the ball for a second looks like.

He will probably be gunning to start this game, hopefully as a false 9 (a position he played well when on loan at Sunderland) with Rashford and Garnacho reoccupying the left and right wings respectively. The rest of the team will probably be the same that played against Fulham (maybe Jonny Evans playing instead of Harry Maguire)

Manchester United Predicted Lineup

Onana;

Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof;

Mainoo, Casemiro;

Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford;

Diallo.

Form Guide

Nottingham Forest form (league): LWLDL

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions): LWLWD

United form (league): LWDWW

United form (all competitions): LWDWWW

Opposition Preview

Ola Aina, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare have been deemed not fit enough to play since the Africa Cup of Nations, while Nuno Tavares and Chris Wood are set to be ruled out for the long term.

Forest are in a turbulent run of form in February, winning against West Ham and beating Bristol City on penalties while drawing against Bournemouth and losing against Newcastle, and most recently, a humiliating 4-2 beat-down at the hands of United’s top 4 competitor, Aston Villa. Nuno will be looking to play his strongest side to bounce back from the beating at the hands of the Villains.

PREDICTION

United had been unbeaten in 2024, winning 4 on the bounce and drawing one against Spurs until that defeat against Fulham and United should, on paper, wipe the floor with a side fighting relegation in the Premier League. Everyone knows Nuno will play a low block and try to use the pace of Morgan Gibbs-White and former United player Anthony Elanga in behind United’s defence.

For far too long United have been wide open in the midfield and that is allowing opposition to run into our third and take more shots, putting Onana under more pressure. Mainoo and Casemiro will need to be extremely sharp and crisp in their passing to maintain some control in the game and not exposing our (let’s be honest) non-pacey defence to constant transitions. With Amad’s creative spark and ball-playing ability, United have an outside chance of holding possession in the opponent’s third IF United try to play through him and not try to pass long balls against an obvious Nuno low block.

United have to start picking up momentum as we head into the business end of the season – no more excuses. We’re trying get into the Champions League, Forest are trying to just stay in the Premier League. Time to fix up and start putting in a shift for the badge.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 United