Key events
12 min: Bruno Fernandes tries to test Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with a shot from distance but his effort fizzes harmlessly wide.
11 min: The rain continues to bucket down and Ruben Amorim is soaked as he paces up and down along the edge of his technical area.
10 min: Ola Aina is well placed to head a Bruno Fernandes cross into the Forest penalty area from the left out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch.
9 min: Ryan Yates gives the ball away inside his own half, allowing Manuel Ugarte to try and send United on their way back upfield.
7 min: Diogo Dalot sends a decent cross skidding through the Forest penalty area but neither Fernandes nor Hojlund were anticipating it and don’t make the sprints required to get on the end of it.
5 min: United win a free-kick just inside the Forest half out by the touchline. Still reeling from that early set-back, they play it back inside their own half and try to build from the back.
3 min: Having conceded two goals from corners against Arsenal in midweek, Manchester United come unstuck at another set-piece. Elliot Anderson’s delivery was towards the near post, where with four men in red shirts looking on, Milenkovic leaped to power home his first goal for Forest from about five yards out.
GOAL! Man United 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Milenkovic 2)
Forest lead! The ball’s sent in from the corner flag and Nikola Milenkovic rises unchallenged to head past Andre Onana.
2 min: Callum Hudson-Odoi goes on a marauding run through the centre, beating two men before running into traffic. Forest win the first corner of the game.
Man United v Nottingham Forest is go …
1 min: After a minute’s applause for Kath Phipps, the game begins with Forest kicking off. Their players are disguised as Manchester City, wearing light blue shirts, shorts and socks. It is pouring rain at Old Trafford, a not uncommon phenomenon.
Not long now: The teams are out on the pitch, with Bruno Fernandes and the former Manchester United player and Nottingham Forest subsitute Anthony Elanga bringing out wreaths to commemorate Kath Phipps, United’s much-loved receptionist, who has passed away. United’s players are currently posing for a pre-match phtograph of them holding up a banner in Kath’s honour. May she rest in peace.
Ruben Amorim: “It is a big stadium, so I think we are protected a little bit against the wind that can affect the game, set-pieces and also the longer balls but we are here to compete and win the game,” says Manchester United’s manager in an interview with Sky Sports upon being asked if he’s had to factor the adverse weather conditions into his thinking for this evening’s game.
Today’s Premier League results
-
Everton P-P Liverpool
-
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton
-
Brentford 4-2 Newcastle United
-
Crystal Palace 2-2 Manchester City
-
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
-
View the Premier League table
Ruben Amorim: “We are not a massive team”
Looking ahead to today’s game, Ruben Amorim told reporters attending his pre-match press conference where he thinks his new club currently sit in the cosmic scheme of things.
“We are a massive club but we are not a massive team,” he said. “We know it, so there is no problem to say it. We’re not one of the best teams in the league. We have to say and think that clearly.
“But [in] our past, our club is maybe the best one in the league. So here we have a problem. We have to focus on the little details, then we will improve as a team.”
Nuno Espirito Santo: “We are ready”
As Forerst prepared for their second Premier League match in Manchester in the space of four days, their manager acknowledged they were tough assignments to face back-to-back but insisted his side would be as well prepared as possible for this evening’s game, despite being far from sure who will line-up for their hosts.
“We are ready,” he said. “Let’s recover and fight for the game. [Manchester Unbited’s] results are difficult to predict because Ruben in this moment is changing a lot. I think he is trying to get to know players better. The idea is there, we don’t know exactly who is going to play, but for sure they have quality players.
“They are quality and have talented players. The shape is there. The personnel and the players we cannot identify who is going to start but our approach is always the same. Let’s focus on the things they have been doing but also let’s look at getting the advantage. It is always a tough place to go but let’s focus on being positive on the game.”
Today’s match officials
-
Referee: Darren England.
-
Assistants: Mat Wilkes and Akil Howson.
-
Fourth official: Josh Smith.
-
VAR: Paul Tierney.
-
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
West Ham: Although light on detail for now, the London club have issued a statement saying that their striker Michail Antonio has been involved in a serious road traffic accident.
“West Ham United can confirm striker Michail Antonio has today been involved in a road traffic accident,” it reads. “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Michail, his family and friends at this time. The club will issue an update in due course.”
Those teams: Leny Yoro makes his first start for Manchester United, with Harry Maguire making way in defence. Amad and Kobbie Mainoo are back in the United starting line-up, with Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Noussair Mazraoui all dropping to the bench.
For Nottingham Forerst, Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson come back into the side, with Orel Mangala and Nicolas Dominguez dropping out. Alex Moreno is injured.
Man United v Nottingham Forest line-ups
Manchester United: Onana, Amad, Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Maguire, Malacia, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina, Yates, Anderson, Jota, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Dominguez, Ward-Prowse, Elanga, Sosa, Boly.
Early team news
Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are both available for selection after sitting out Manchester United’s midweek defeat at the hands of Arsenal on the Naughty Step, but Manchester United defenders Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are all sidelined with injury.
Leny Yoro could also be ready for his first Premier League start after playing 30 minutes against Arsenal upon his return from the fracture he picked up in pre-season.
Nottingham Forest continue to cope in the absence of Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare but otherwise have a clean bill of health.
Premier League: Man Utd v Nottingham Forest
Despite the severe buffeting Wales and the north-west of England are taking from Storm Darragh, this evening’s match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest looks set to go ahead, although the players of both sides will almost certainly have to contend with rain and winds of up to 40 miles per hour as they go about their business.
Manchester United come into this match on the back of Wednesday night’s defeat at the hands of Arsenal, while Forest will hope to bounce back from their loss at the Etihad Stadium, where they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City. Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 5.30pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the mean time for team news and weather updates.
