Game Week 20 Predictions: United to win at Forest

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: A crucial match for both teams seeking back-to-back wins in a critical stage of the season.

Nottingham Forest and Manchester United can use some level of positive consistency at this stage, they both need a strong result from this game. (Photo credit: 90Min)

 

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United

The City Ground

6:30pm

Nottingham Forest and Manchester United are both in precarious situations for completely different reasons; both could do with a win in this game to avoid further pressure.

Both had a great result last time out, and that’s why winning this one would mean more as it would represent back-to-back wins, something both sides haven’t been able to boast of on a consistent basis this season that just got to the halfway stage.

Nottingham Forest, with a huge surprise, beat Newcastle United 3-1 on Boxing Day. It was a result no one saw coming with Chris Wood netting a hattrick against the team that sold him just a little under a year ago; they’ll hope for another of such against United.

Manchester United on their own parts beat Aston Villa 3-2 having gone two goals down in the opening stages of the game. Unai Emery’s side will look into the mirror and feel sorry for an opportunity missed, but United could well turn a corner after the game.

What was lacking at United all the while was the contribution of the frontmen to goals. Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund were all in the mix against Villa, with Rashford assisting the Argentine youngster and Hojlund scoring his first league goal. Such a relief.

If Luton beats Chelsea at Kenilworth Road and Everton earns a point at Wolves, Nottingham Forest could slip into the bottom three should they lose to Manchester United, Nuno Espirito Santo understands this, it’s better not to get in, it becomes murky and sticky right before your eyes.

Forest will rely on their fans to power them to a special result. They were 2-0 up against United in the first leg at Old Trafford, only to be reduced to ten men and then Bruno Fernandes converted a contentious penalty to take the game away from there.

Taiwo Awoniyi remains injured, Wood has stepped up and he’s among the goals in recent games, he can be the difference against Erik Ten Hag’s men. Anthony Elanga will face his old club and would hope to prove a point, United must be wary.

The duo of Sofyan Amrabat and, Andre Onana would be off to AFCON after this game, the Moroccan hasn’t been anything special for United but, they’d hope their second keeper can deputize in place of Onana who has been included in the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Verdict: United to win