Toothless Man United suffer 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest as Ruben Amorim’s start falters

Suffering their second Premier League loss in the space of a few days, Man United remain levelled at midtable tonight, shipping a disappointing 3-2 loss against Nottingham Forest in their return to Old Trafford.

Fresh from a 2-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal in London earlier this week, Man United returned to home affairs in a clash with Forest, with Amorim searching for his second victory in domestic competition since his move from Sporting Lisbon.

However, falling behind in the opening couple of minutes, Nikola Milenkovic headed home from another set piece, with Lisandro Martinez unable to contain the center half early on.

Man United suffer 3-2 loss at home to Nottingham Forest

And making a natural inside run from the left-hand side, Argentine winger, Alejandro Garnacho forced a close save from the keeper, with striker, Rasmus Hojlund converted just his second league goal this season.

Heading into the half time interval level at 1-1, early in the second half, Man United shipped their second of the game, with a wayward pass from Bruno Fernandes allowing Morgan Gibbs-White some time and space in front of goal.

However, despite the captain’s mistake, goalkeeper, Andre Onana would surely have done better with the effort from the recent England debutante, with his effort ending up center goal.

And moments later, the faltering Man United were subject to a third goal, with Oceanic striker, Chris Wood rising higher than Leny Yoro to head home into the far post, past Onana who became tangled up with Dutch defender, Matthis de Ligt. 

Managing to score their own second of the game in search of a parity landing third, a brilliant run from Ivorian wing back, Amad Diallo saw Fernandes convert into the far corner from just inside the area, with Man United ultimately dropping three points. 

And sharing his thoughts on Cameroonian keeper, Onana’s blunders for two of Forest’s goals, Amorim pointed to the former Ajax and Inter Milan shot-stopper’s recent performance against Ipswich Town as warranting some defense and backup from his defensive structure ahead of him.

“(Andre) Onana has saved us a lot of times,” Ruben Amorim explained following United’s defeat against Forest. “We have to find a way when [a mistake] happens. We have to turn it around to help our goalkeeper. The same way he saves us at Ipswich.”

Hooked off in place of former Chelsea midfielder, Mason Mount just before the hour mark, Portuguese playmaker, Fernandes was “tired” according to Amorim – who explained the decision to replace the captain, who has rarely been hooked before 90 minutes during his entire tenure with United.

“Bruno was too tired and I wanted Mount to play that position of second midfielder who opens a bit on the left,” Ruben Amorim said.

Returning to Premier League action next weekend, United make the quick cross-city trip to the Etihad to take on Man City in the Manchester Derby, after a Thursday trip to the Czech Republic to take on Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League – in search of a top-8 finish in order to secure automatic qualification.