Nottingham Forest’s heart and togetherness was evident in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, with Anthony Elanga’s fifth-minute strike the difference at the City Ground. George Edwards was at the match
Nottingham Forest have done the double over Manchester United and, well, no one is really surprised.
With 95 minutes on the clock, and victory on the line, Forest withstood a barrage of aerial pressure and carnage in the box. An emphatic roar followed, celebrations mirroring the scoring of a second goal, as Murillo hoofed the ball into safety to seal the victory.
That moment illustrated the immense heart and togetherness. The whole stadium roared, the whole city roared, victory against Manchester United, and one Forest’s heartfelt display undoubtedly deserved.
Much like many a victory this season, the result was built on a foundation of grit, strength and desire, complemented by a blissful and clinical charge and finish by Anthony Elanga, as Forest did the double over the Red Devils for the first time since 1991/92.
Everything and more
Three days, two competitions and over 200 minutes played. Result? An FA Cup semi-final, two clean sheets and an extended cushion of 10 points to sixth-placed Newcastle United. Not a bad few days then.
Every ounce of energy poured into those two games was evident come full time. Almost every player in red let out a euphoric cry of celebration before collapsing to the floor, everything and more put into those two results.
The contrast between the two sides was evident. In one instance, Forest won possession and broke forward, overloading United between midfield and defence. Five of the visitor’s outfield players looked on, tracking back never in their thoughts as Forest broke down on goal.
That would never be allowed or deemed acceptable in this Forest side.
Morgan Gibbs-White was visibly flagging towards the end but never once considered stopping, a quality evident across the entire side.
Giving everything for the cause, for the badge and the supporters is the primary principle of this Forest side, a team as together and united as any side perhaps in Forest history.
Elanga proving Forest is the place to thrive
Muted celebrations followed from Elanga as he scored Forest’s fifth-minute winner, but inside he must have been buzzing.
Elanga spearheads a group of Forest players deemed surplus to the supposed bigger sides that have been allowed to truly shine after moving Trentside, and you can’t see any of them wanting to leave anytime soon.
Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood, Neco Williams, Ola Aina and, to an extent, Gibbs-White. All shipped away from current Premier League sides in recent times, unleashing their true potential under Nuno Espírito Santo’s astute and loving management.
The Swede notched his 14th goal involvement of the season with that assured finish, capping a period of confidence off the charts.
There was a period where he looked stagnant. In fact, I wrote a frustrated piece in December last year lamenting how Forest needed to bring the best out of their widemen to build consistency.
Since then, beginning with Forest’s reverse fixture against the Red Devils, Elanga has amassed 13 of those 14 goal involvements and has acquired the killer decision-making skills he seemed to lack in the months before. He just makes the right choice and looks ice-cold in front of goal, never in doubt about the option he’s about to take.
That conviction is apparent in every single Forest player right now, so sure of both their own games and the style adopted as a collective.
In-game management spot on as ever
The way Forest seamlessly transition and adapt to in-game alterations is breathtaking and rather remarkable.
First, a tweak from the off, as Callum Hudson-Odoi missed the game due personal matters. Next, Ola Aina limping off and an immediate switch. It helped that Forest did have the early lead, but rather than a straight swap, Nuno acknowledged the downfall in defensive cover and switched to the infamous back five; a defensive lineup who had never played together until last night.
Nuno’s tinkering continued, with Gibbs-White operating out wide before slotting back into midfield, Yates doing the most amazing job and leaving his lasting mark on Bruno Fernandes and the manager freshening Forest up with energy from the bench just when they needed it most.
Contrasted to the desperation in the opposition dugout — where Harry Maguire ended up coming on as a number nine —Nuno always has a plan and executes it to perfection almost every time, a figure exuding warmth and gratitude as his heroic figure as Forest’s leader continues to grow and be hailed.
Injuries beginning to stack up?
Everything has gone in Forest’s favour this season. Yes, they have made their own luck, but have consistently avoided lengthy injuries to key players, something always looming in the background of any successful side.
Aina’s limp off coupled with the absence of Chris Wood for Forest’s last two games has to cast a tinge of doubt over the run-in, given that the pair have been utterly instrumental to the way Forest go about their way.
And while their starting XI is up there with the very best, depth at the very top echelon is something still lacking given Forest are new to this whole top-half thing.
There’s no indication as to how long Forest will be without that dependent duo, but while their replacements can certainly do a job and do it well, Moreno is no Aina and Awoniyi is no Wood.
But Forest have the buffer, they have a decent run of games and they have the unstoppable feeling of momentum and belief running through every vein; so, now, you’d better believe, it’s on!
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