Man United’s Eriksen ‘did not know’ he would step in for injured Sabitzer before win at Nottingham Forest

By | April 16, 2023
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Christian Eriksen said he “did not know” he would replace Marcel Sabitzer when Manchester United were forced into a last-minute change to their starting side at Nottingham Forest, where Erik ten Hag’s team won 2-0 to strengthen their Champions League qualification hopes.

Goals by Antony and Diogo Dalot extended United’s winning run in the top flight to three matches and ensured toothless Forest remained in the relegation zone, with Eriksen playing an instrumental role at late notice as the visitors’ midfield dominated the ball and set up a succession of chances while their opponents failed to produce a shot on target.

Already missing top scorer Marcus Rashford and first-team regulars including Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, United suffered another setback during the warm-up when Sabitzer, who scored twice in eight minutes during their 2-2 draw at home to Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, sustained a groin injury.

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“He felt something,” said Eriksen, telling Sky Sports that he was informed minutes before kickoff by technical director Darren Fletcher about his first start since returning from an ankle injury.

“At the time, I didn’t know if [Ten Hag] was going to pick me or not. He just said ‘be ready’. On the way in, Fletch said ‘I think it’s you.’ I’ve been out for a while, so I need to do my prep to play.”

Winger Antony scored his first goal in 15 league games when he prodded in after Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas had parried Anthony Martial’s shot, giving United a 32nd-minute lead that defender Dalot doubled with a clinical finish after collecting a perceptive Antony pass 14 minutes from time.

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Bruno Fernandes also hit the crossbar in a highly influential performance as United had much the better of the game, moving three points above Newcastle and six ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham to leave third-bottom Forest below Everton on goal difference.

Forest threatened intermittently, going closest when Taiwo Awoniyi had a shot blocked on the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka after five minutes and launching strong appeals for a penalty for handball against Harry Maguire before they fell behind.

‘The ref should give it’

After watching Forest’s winless sequence stretch to ten games, manager Steve Cooper is under pressure as part of a month in which he has been warned by club owner Evangelos Marinakis that wins are imminently required.

Cooper was outspoken about referee Simon Hooper’s decision to deny Forest a penalty, VAR deeming no further action was required when replays appeared to show a cross had hit Harry Maguire’s arm.

Forest were having spells of early pressure when three Manchester United players crowded together to try to clear the same ball at the far post.

“I definitely think it was a penalty from the Maguire incident, and then a second yellow,” Cooper said to Sky Sports, referring to a shaky opening period for Maguire, who was booked after three minutes for bringing down Awoniyi.

“The ref should give it, I understand at this level and the type of incident why he did not give it. But I do not know how VAR did not spot it, at this level they should be doing better.”

More managerial rancour is unlikely to thrill officiating body the PGMOL, who have come under fierce criticism for a series of controversial incidents this season and issued an apology to Brighton following their game at Spurs on April 8.

Forest have seven games in which to secure their safety, starting with a trip to Liverpool on April 22 as part of three successive matches against teams currently in the top nine of the Premier League.

“There is a lot of scrutiny on us due to our league position and the time of the season that it is,” said Cooper. “The atmosphere was great again today, the fans really got behind us. The result is tough one to take.”

More to follow

The Sporting News followed the action from Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United, with live score updates and highlights below. 

MORE: Updated Premier League table with snapshots of each race

Nottingham Forest vs Man United result

  1H 2H Final
Nott’m Forest  0  0  0
Man United  1  1  2

Goals: Man United โ€” Antony (31)

Man United โ€” Diogo Dalot (75)

Lineups:

Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Navas (GK) โ€“ Felipe, McKenna, Niakhate โ€“ Williams, Freuler, Danilo, Lodi; โ€“ Gibbs-White โ€“ Awoniyi, Johnson

Man United (4-1-4-1): De Gea (GK) โ€“ Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Dalot โ€“ Casemiro โ€“ Fernandes, Antony, Eriksen, Sancho โ€“ Martial

Nottingham Forest vs Man United live updates, highlights from Premier League

Fulltime: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

United overcome their injury worries to beat Forest with a confidence performance that was rewarded by goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot!

Thanks for following our live blog. We’ll have a full report, reaction and analysis at the top of this page shortly.

87 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

Jesse Lingard comes on against the club where he had spent his entire career before joining Forest last summer.

Lingard had been expected to be Forest’s main goal threat this season but his last Premier League goal was for their opponents today.

85 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

Forest want a freekick but their appeals fall flat as Victor Lindelof strides away from United’s penalty area, starting a move that culminates in Jadon Sancho powering a shot well over the crossbar from a promising position.

82 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

Bruno Fernandes bends a centrally-located free-kick wide of a post with Keylor Navas diving.

His inventiveness has deserved a goal this afternoon. He’s orchestrated what is very likely to be United’s third successive league win.

79 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

That was Diogo Dalot’s first Premier League goal of the season. The fullback took it like a seasoned striker, mind.

76 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd

Now that away end can celebrate as the goal hits the net in front of them. Antony surges towards the penalty area from the right and finds the run of Diogo Dalot inside the box on the left, who finishes past Keylor Navas with a clinical strike.

Given the way this second half has gone, it would be a major surprise if that doesn’t seal it for United, who are heading third.

75 mins: GOAL โ€“ Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man Utd (Diogo Dalot)

It’s two!

74 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Antony sends a cross from the right towards three players at the far post. Keylor Navas does brilliantly to tip the danger away from the waiting cavalry, and Forest scramble clear.

72 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Forest have had to survive for much of this half but they’re still in it. Neco Williams goes on an adventurous run down the right, beating Christian Eriksen and entering the penalty area ahead of the backtracking Harry Maguire.

Williams’ low delivery across goal is a good one, and Victor Lindelof does well to send it behind.

70 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

The United fans behind the goal Casemiro is aiming at collectively grown as the midfielder rises well to meet a cross from the right between two defenders but nods wide from close range. It was a tricky one but, from that proximity, he would probably have scored had he hit the target.

Wout Weghorst replaces Anthony Martial, who had a lively first half and was instrumental in United going ahead.

69 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

The ball has been inside Forest’s half for 53% of the time during the past 15 minutes. United are readying Wout Weghorst to come on.

67 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Renan Lodi breaks free down the left and lofts a cross towards the far post which is claimed by United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Jadon Sancho is then too quick for Neco Williams at the other end of the pitch on the left, bursting clear of him and being hauled back at the expense of a booking for the defender. Williams couldn’t let him dart on towards goal, there.

65 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Changes ahoy for Forest as the hosts look to shift the momentum. 

61 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

60 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Keylor Navas has been particularly busy recently. Bruno Fernandes takes aim from the edge of the penalty area on the left, powering in a low shot that takes a deflection and is tipped behind by the goalkeeper at his near post.

Forest need to stem the tide if they’re to avoid falling further behind.

59 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Bruno Fernandes isn’t happy with Felipe, telling him in no uncertain terms that he won’t forget the challenge he’s just been the subject of.

58 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Antony wins United a corner with a deflected shot from outside the penalty area on the right, then curls a dipping shot very narrowly wide of the far post from similar range.

United want a penalty after a cross hits two or three players on its way through the box from the left. It’s been a prolific day for handball shouts. Keylor Navas punches a cross clear.

55 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Bruno Fernandes has been a menace to Forest in this game. This time he picks up a pass from Christian Eriksen outside the penalty area on the right and swings a peach of a shot against the crossbar via Keylor Navas’ fingertips.

But for the goalkeeper’s agile heroics, the game could be beyond Forest by now.

52 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Promising for Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White exchanges a quick one-two to break free of United’s press inside his own half on the left, then almost releases Taiwo Awoniyi with a low, long pass.

Awoniyi moves marginally too late to beat the offside trap. From Forest’s subsequent attack, he then can’t capitalise on a useful right-wing Neco Williams cross.

50 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Antony swings a shot over the target from the right as the ball falls to him following that United corner.

Forest will want to show a lot more than they have during the opening five minutes of the half.

49 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Deja vu for Antony, here, after Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho play a neat, short one-two inside the penalty area on the right.

Sancho rolls a cross along the goalmouth, and Antony probably should be there at the far post to tap in. The ball is adjudged to have taken a Forest touch last, so it’s a United corner on their right.

47 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

United have won 12 of the 13 Premier League matches in which they have been ahead at halftime this season, drawing the other.

They’ll move three points above Newcastle into third, should they prevail here.

46 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

The action restarts with Forest launching a long ball towards the edge of the penalty area, where Harry Maguire heads the danger away.

Halftime: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

There was time for one more chance before the whistle, Bruno Fernandes angling a header wide when he was unmarked in the middle of the penalty area.

Fernandes is in plenty of company when it comes to treating opportunities wastefully in this entertaining match, but he at least has the satisfaction of knowing he was part of the goal, feeding Anthony Martial for a shot that resulted in Antony scoring after Keylor Navas parried the striker’s shot.

Perhaps the season and the pace of the game have taken their tolls on some of the players, as there have been several incidents on either side when it looked like Marcel Sabitzer might not be the only injury casualty of today. 1-0 to the visitors at the break!

43 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Forest should be ahead! Morgan Gibbs-White seizes on a misplaced Bruno Fernandes pass, surging away from his own penalty area before hitting a wayward ball towards Taiwo Awoniyi.

Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelof look desperate to help Forest score, combining to gift Awoniyi a chance inside the penalty area. Alas for Forest, he shows the composure of a greedy toddler presented with a roomful of cake, hammering his finish over the target.

42 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Intricate play from Forest ends in what is almost a tellingly incisive lofted pass inside the penalty area from Danilo.

Victor Lindelof does well to clear the danger and is adjudged to have been fouled in the process.

39 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Look away now, Forest fans: your team is going to have to do something it hasn’t done all season in order to come back here, because their record is drawn four, lost 11 when conceding the opening goal in the Premier League this campaign.

36 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Forest fans are baying for Harry Maguire to receive a second booking after Taiwo Awoniyi goes down under a challenge from him inside the penalty area.

No infringement is adjudged to have taken place.

34 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

That was Antony’s first goal in 15 Premier League appearances. The winger has had his detractors for his occasional lack of end product but he did well to reach that chance first and put United ahead with his studs, atoning for the opportunity shortly beforehand when he should have been quicker to reach a Bruno Fernandes cross that evaded Forest’s defence and rolled across goal.

32 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd

Slick goal, that one โ€“ although Keylor Navas nearly thwarted United once again.

Forest gave the ball away outside their own penalty area, Anthony Martial stabbing a pass back into the path of Bruno Fernandes in the left channel.

Fernandes slid an excellent first time run into the box to find Martial’s continuing run, and the striker’s thrashed shot towards the far post was beaten away by the diving Navas, rolling into the path of Antony at the far post to sharply edge in the finish.

31 mins: GOAL โ€“ Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd (Antony)

United go ahead!

28 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

Forest’s Felipe is briefly down on the turf, then returns to his feet.

26 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

Scott McKenna sends the ball against the woodwork as Forest cause trouble from a corner again!

You know what’s coming next in the context of this game: Christian Eriksen provides Keylor Navas with a fairly routine save at the other end.

23 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man Utd

Were we to lapse into boxing analogies, we could say United look the more likely to land a big shot but Forest are bobbing and weaving with the jabs.

Taiwo Awoniyi has been at the centre of much of the hosts’ best work. This time his delivery is sent behind by Harry Maguire.

21 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Bruno Fernandes has been a productive creative force for United during the opening 20 minutes or so, and this time he bends a low delivery across the face of goal that cuts out Forest’s defence and would only needs a faint touch to go in.

Anthony Martial isn’t able to reach it and Antony isn’t close enough to the far post to do the honours. The winger should have gambled there.

19 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Chaos inside United’s penalty area as three defenders all try to deal with a cross from the right at the far post.

There’s a strong suspicison that the ball hit Harry Maguire’s left arm but a VAR check doesn’t reward Forest.

17 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Forest are indebted to Keylor Navas again! Antony and Bruno Fernandes exchange a one-two inside the penalty area, and the Portugal playmaker thwacks a shot at goal.

Navas descends to beat the ball away with a fine stop. United haven’t had it all their way but they’ve certainly had the better chances and could be two ahead.

15 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Mockery from the away fans now as Moussa Niakhate sends a shot from a considerable distance out high into the stands.

“He got a bit giddy there,” ex-United defender Gary Neville remarks on Sky Sports. Neville’s former side have had 73% of possession so far.

13 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Harry Maguire lumps a ball out of play to loud cheers from the home fans. If you can’t exactly say he looks concerned, United manager Erik ten Hag certainly looks deep in thought as he stands on the sideline.

11 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Surely not another injury. Brennan Johnson is down and needs a prolonged period of treatment.

Fortunately for Forest, their dangerman is up.

9 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

End-to-end again: Felipe heads a delivery over the Forest goal to fend off danger from United, then Brennan Johnson sets off on a run that is alertly ended by Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the visitors.

7 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Better from United, who create danger inside the Forest penalty area on the left through a terrific curled delivery from the opposite flank by Bruno Fernandes.

This might feel like a joke to Erik ten Hag by now, but goalkeeper David de Gea looks to be in some discomfort. The United boss’s selection plans have already been as disrupted as Clapham Junction during a signal failure during recent days.

5 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

This has been an excellent, end-to-end start to the game. Forest win a corner on their right, Harry Maguire’s header doesn’t deal with the danger and, from the ensuing deliver, Taiwo Awoniyi has a close-range strike blocked on the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United look uncertain at the back, with Maguire not having the best of starts.

3 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Harry Maguire already knew he would have to miss United’s FA Cup semifinal against Brighton next Sunday through suspension.

Now the defender picks up another yellow card for tangling with Taiwo Awoniyi as Forest try to attack beyond the halfway line on the left. Tightrope.

2 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Blistering start by United, who launch an attack inside the Forest penalty area on the right, working the ball back to Jadon Sancho in front of goal.

It looks for all the world like Sancho is going to sweep the ball into the net but the attacker’s finish lacks conviction and goalkeeper Keylor Navas blocks with a leg!

1 mins: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United

Forest begin the action! Can they capitalise on United’s injury misery and gain at least the point they need to escape the relegation zone this afternoon?

5 mins to KO: Confirmation that Christian Eriksen starts for United. Marcel Sabitzer pulled up with a groin injury during the warm-up.

Erik ten Hag may be feeling like luck has deserted him when it comes to injuries, recently.

10 mins to KO: Broadcasters Sky Sports say United’s Marcel Sabitzer may be a late injury absentee, potentially to be replaced by Christian Eriksen from the start today. We will keep you updated when we learn more, but that would be another blow for United following Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez’s issues…

30 mins to KO: Jesse Lingard’s on the bench today โ€“ the attacker is yet to score for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this season after making a high-profile move from United in the summer.

If he gets off the mark today, Lingard will become the third former Manchester United player to score his first Premier League goal for a side against the Red Devils. Keith Gillespie at Sheffield United in 2006-07 was the first, then Dan James repeated the trick for Fulham this season.

50 mins to KO: Now for the visitors! Anthony Martial is theoretically on his own as an outright attacker, with Harry Maguire starting at centre-back.

(4-1-4-1): De Gea (GK) โ€“ Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Dalot โ€“ Casemiro โ€“ Fernandes, Antony, Sabitzer, Sancho โ€“ Martial

1 hour to KO: Here’s how the hosts line up! 

(3-4-1-2): Navas (GK) โ€“ Felipe, McKenna, Niakhate โ€“ Williams, Freuler, Danilo, Lodi โ€“ Gibbs-White โ€“ Awoniyi, Johnson

1 hour 15 mins to KO: While we await team news, donโ€™t forget to follow our dedicated football channels on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest football updates, stats and analysis.

Theyโ€™re your essential companions to the beautiful game. Elsewhere on the site, you can also follow the earlier game this afternoon, which has produced four goals so far between West Ham and Arsenal.

1 hour 30 mins to KO: Striker Wout Weghorst is yet to score for Manchester United in the Premier League but he did find the net when they won 3-0 here on their way to winning this season’s Carabao Cup.

Erik ten Hag has named Weghorst as one of the players he hopes will replace the goal threat United will be missing while Marcus Rashford is out of action with a muscle injury. Lisandro Martinez was Player of the Match at the City Ground in that win โ€“ and he’s out for the rest of the season, adding to United’s depletion.

1 hour 45 mins to KO: There was talk of Arsenal “poking the bear” when a Granit Xhaka challenge somewhat enlivened the Anfield crowd as the Premier League leaders were held at Liverpool last Sunday.

Erik ten Hag is also wary of winding up the City Ground, which is always an atmospheric place. โ€œYou don’t play against the audience, but don’t heat up the crowd,” Ten Hag has warned his players.

“We have to be aware of it and take that into the game and play our game and control and dictate. That has to be our approach from the first minute onwards.โ€

2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the match between relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest and top-four chasers Manchester United!

United have won their last six Premier League games against Forest by scoring at least three goals in each one.

In the history of the English top flight, only Manchester City (eight vs Wolverhampton between 1902 and 1932) and Arsenal (seven vs Middlesbrough between 1930 and 1933) have put together a successful streak of scoring three goals or more.

Ominous? Not necessarily for Forest, who’ll move out of the bottom three this afternoon if they avoid defeat.

Nottingham Forest vs Man United lineups, team news

Steve Cooper is continuing to fight against an injury crisis as his team battle Premier League relegation, with the hosts potentially missing 11 first-team players this weekend.

However, he does have options within the squad, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Orel Mangala potentially returning to the starting XI, but Dean Henderson is ineligible to face his parent club.

Nottingham Forest starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Navas (GK) โ€” Williams, Felipe, Worrall, Toffolo โ€” Mangala, Colback โ€” Gibbs-White, Shelvey, Johnson โ€” Awoniyi

Nottingham Forest subs: Hennessey (GK), Freuler, Ayew, Lingard, Surridge, Dennis, McKenna, Danilo

Ten Hag is facing injury concerns of his own. Argentina international Lisandro Martinez is out for the season with a broken metatarsal, while Raphael Varane is facing weeks on the sidelines.

Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay are expected to return to the squad, but top scorer Marcus Rashford remains out with a groin problem.

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) โ€” Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw โ€” Casemiro, Fernandes โ€” Antony, Sabitzer, Sancho โ€” Martial

Man United subs: Butland (GK), Dalot, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, Eriksen, McTominay, Elanga, Weghorst

MORE: English Premier League table 2022/23: Updated EPL standings as Arsenal remain top

Nottingham Forest vs Man United live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
USA Sun, Apr. 16 11:30 ET USA Network, Telemundo Fubo, Telemundo Dep.,
NBC Sports
Canada Sun, Apr. 16 11:30 ET โ€” Fubo Canada
UK Sun, Apr. 16 16:30 BST Sky Sports Main Event,
Sky Sports Premier League		 Sky GO
Australia Mon, Apr. 17 01:30 AEST โ€” Optus Sport
New
Zealand		 Mon, Apr. 17 03:30 NZST Sky Sport Premier League Sky Sport NOW
Hong Kong Sun, Apr. 16 23:30 HKT Now Premier League
(Ch. 620-621)		 Now Player
India Sun, Apr. 16 21:00 IST Star Sports Select 2 Jio TV, Hotstar VIP
Malaysia Sun, Apr. 16 23:30 MYT Astro SuperSport

Astro GO, sooka
Singapore Sun, Apr. 16 23:30 SGT Hub Premier
(Ch. 221-222)		 StarHub TV+

UK: This match will be broadcast live in the UK via Sky Sports’ TV and streaming services.

USA: This match will be televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) with both broadcasts streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users. 

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Nottingham Forest vs Man United prediction, betting odds

Despite their slip against Sevilla, United are in decent overall Premier League form, and they will be confident of securing a win on the road against a Forest side in freefall.

Cooper has been backed by the club’s ownership, but his team are right in the middle of a relegation battle with eight games of the campaign left to play.

Prediction: Man United to win 2-1

  Man United
win		 Draw Notts Forest
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals		 Man United
-0.5		 Notts Forest
+0.5
BetMGM
(USA)		 +400 +290 -154 -130 / -108 -137 / -102 -167 +120
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 4.89 3.97 1.60 1.70 / 1.92 1.74 / 2.02 1.66 2.18
SkyBet
(UK)		 17/4 3/1 8/13  8/11, 1/1 8/11, 1/1 โ€” โ€”
Neds
(Australia)		 5.20 3.90 1.62 1.75 / 2.00 1.77, 2.05 โ€” โ€”
Dafabet
(India)		 5.00 3.83 1.65 1.75 / 2.00 1.77, 2.05 1.65 2.24

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