What the papers say: Nottingham Forest v Manchester United

A late winner from Casemiro at the City Ground put Manchester United through to the FA Cup quarter-finals at Nottingham Forest’s expense. Here’s what the national newspapers had to say

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The Guardian

Legend has it that Mark Robins was the man to save Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United managerial career with an FA Cup winner against Nottingham Forest in 1990. That year United went on to win the trophy at Wembley and the pressure was lifted from their manager. Erik ten Hag will be hoping Casemiro’s late winner might have the same galvanising effect on his tenure.

The Brazilian’s header was the 36th attempt on goal on a night devoid of quality but the result is all that matters for Ten Hag, who will be holding on to hope United can reach Wembley in this competition as he looks to prove himself to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new minority shareholder – although the small matter of Liverpool awaits in the next round as United look to go one better than being beaten finalists last season.

The Times

For 89 minutes, the only element that was elite about Manchester United was the quality of their support. The long-suffering, 4,000-strong travelling contingent sang endlessly, even about going to Wembley even when Nottingham Forest threatened to embarrass their team. Their players raised their game only in Fergie time, quick thinking finally replacing sluggishness.

United’s talented but overemotional captain, Bruno Fernandes, had done little all game but suddenly delivered a clever free kick, given for Anthony Elanga’s foul on Diogo Dalot, targeting the near post, finding Casemiro. The Brazilian’s stooping, flicked header set up an enticing, cancel-all-leave epic of an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour just got livelier: Old Trafford on March 16 or 17 in the cup, then April 7 in the league. The Stretford End will go hoarse.

The Telegraph

It is now a record 48 times that Manchester United have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals, and Erik ten Hag must find a way past Liverpool in his mission to end the season with silverware.

The City Ground has historically proven a fortunate cup venue for United managers in desperate need of results and, as the mist rolled in from the River Trent, the pressure on Ten Hag evaporated for a few more days.

Casemiro’s header a minute from the end spared United from further scrutiny after their dismal defeat by Fulham, with two figures from past and present in Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Dave Brailsford watching on from the stand.

The Independent

One FA Cup goal in a 1-0 success against Nottingham Forest in 1990 is credited with saving Sir Alex Ferguson’s job and setting the wheels in motion for the trophy-laden dynasty that was to follow.

Casemiro’s header late in the day to earn Manchester United a 1-0 victory against the same opposition 24 years later is highly unlikely to be remembered in the same bracket as Mark Robin’s famous strike to dig Ferguson out of a hole, but the Brazilian at least gives Erik ten Hag a fighting chance at proving he is the man to lead the Sir Jim Ratcliffe revolution into a brighter future.

It was not pretty, as United looked vulnerable at the back while profligate down the other end at the City Ground, but Casemiro’s late intervention from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick sees United through to a record 48th FA Cup quarter-final, in the competition that represents United’s only realistic chance of securing Ten Hag silverware for the second successive season.

The I

Manchester United can always rely upon history when the present makes them feel a little glum.

They have reached their 48th FA Cup quarter-final, the most of any club in the competition’s history and drawing them ahead of Everton. Perhaps they are a cup team now. Or is that just an easy excuse for the rest?

The game flowed easily early on, helped by two sides against whom it is possible to find large spaces in midfield when they lose the ball. The first half became a series of breaks in such circumstances, the recalled Antony and Alejandro Garnacho attacking down Nottingham Forest‘s flanks and Divock Origi and Anthony Elanga doing the same to United.

The Mail

The FA Cup has not always been enough to save Manchester United managers.

Tommy Docherty won one in 1977 and was sacked the next month. Louis van Gaal won one in 2016 and was sacked the next day.

So the current incumbent, Erik ten Hag, will not rest easy, not yet. With new part-owners at Old Trafford tracking and watching his every move, Ten Hag will need steady progress on all fronts between now and the season’s end if he is to be invited to stick around. This second campaign of his tenure has simply raised too many questions about his suitability.

The Mirror

Casemiro scored a late winner as Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-final with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat against Fulham, United started the brighter at the City Ground. Antony and Scott McTominay went close to giving them the lead inside the opening 10 minutes, before Marcus Rashford was presented with a huge chance, but he blazed over.

Forest grew into the game and forced Andre Onana into a series of impressive saves, but United still provided a threat at the other end, with Bruno Fernandes going close in the second half. It was the Red Devils who eventually scored the winner, however, as Casemiro headed home from close range.

The Sun

It might sound like a proper ‘glory, glory Man United’ moment – an 89th-minute winner to settle a tense FA Cup tie.

But the decisive goal from Casemiro had an element of bizarre fluke, after another horribly flat performance from Erik ten Hag’s side.

A free-kick from Bruno Fernandes out by the left-hand touchline bounced in front of goal, Casemiro added the slightest of touches with his head and, after a lengthy VAR check for offside, Man Utd were limping into the quarter-finals.

At least they avoided the potential nightmare scenario of a second defeat at the City Ground in the space of two months and confirmation of a trophyless season.

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