ALL WHITE ON NIGHT
Morgan helps fire Forest to
THEY will talk about this famous victory on the red side of the Trent for many years to come.
The night when the City Ground went wild after Morgan Gibbs-white’s superb late strike handed Nottingham Forest a first win over Manchester United in 29 years.
Nicolas Dominguez struck a delightful opener in the 64th minute, his goal another knife in the side of a United side struggling for confidence and wobbling alarmingly.
Marcus Rashford levelled matters in the 78th minute but just four minutes later Gibbswhite’s
stunning shot beat Andre Onana to spark wild scenes.
It was Forest’s first victory over United since a 2-1 success at Old Trafford in December 1994 when Stuart Pearce and Stan Collymore were on target.
Buoyed by a thunderous prematch rendition of their Mull of Kintyre anthem, Forest threatened inside the opening minute.
Anthony Elanga crossed dangerously from the right flank and Dominguez connected with a fiercely struck right-foot which Kobbie Mainoo did well to divert for a corner.
Forest were still bubbling from winning at Newcastle on Boxing Day and Chris Wood, the hattrick hero at St James’ Park, tried his luck with a left-foot strike from 20 yards which flew narrowly over the bar.
In the 11th minute, Forest went closer still when a superb counter-attack culminated in Elanga crossing from the left and Raphael Varane’s clearance spooned across the face of goal.
It was a let off for sluggish United, who were taunted by the home faithful. Having spent £400million on new players since he was appointed, Erik ten Hag is under pressure to prove he should remain as manager in the new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Dutchman’s team have struggled in the league this season and finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Forest wheeled out club icon Des Walker at half-time but United went agonisingly close when Aaron Wan-bissaka crossed from the right and Diogo Dalot saw his superb right-foot shot cannon back off a post from 25 yards.
Forest finally made the breakthrough when a move
inside the right channel saw Gonzalo Montiel cross from the right to Dominguez, who fired in a superb low shot into the corner.
With 12 minutes remaining, Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner inexplicably played the ball straight to Alejandro Garnacho, who found Rashford and he fired home low and hard into the net.
Still Forest were not finished, with Gibbs-white enhancing his cult status by latching on to Elanga’s pass and firing a brilliant right-foot shot home.
It secured Forest’s first home win against United since March 1992, which came courtesy of a Nigel Clough goal.