Nottingham Forest will bid to inflict more misery on Manchester United when they renew hostilities in the FA Cup fifth round tonight.
The Tricky Trees beat Erik ten Hag‘s side 2-1 on their home patch when they met in the Premier League at the end of December.
That result seemed to galvanise United, who went unbeaten in seven games across all competitions at the start of 2024.
That run, which included four straight top-flight victories, was snapped brutally by Fulham‘s dramatic 2-1 win last weekend.
United, last season’s FA Cup runners-up, will now bid to bounce back ahead of a must-win Manchester derby against rivals City on Sunday.
But Forest will also be seeking a response on home turf having suffered a 4-2 defeat away against Aston Villa last Saturday.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: Bru beauty
United captain Bruno Fernandes has faced calls to be sold by Old Trafford chiefs, due to being ‘everything that is wrong with United’.
That’s the view of former Arsenal winger Perry Groves, who has described the Red Devils as ‘rotten’.
Fernandes came under fresh scrutiny during the defeat to Fulham, having lost possession a whopping 28 times in 90 minutes.
He managed just four tackles, won only half of his 12 ground duels, and registered an Expected Assists (xA) going forward of 0.04.
However, a return to FA Cup action could be just what Fernandes needs.
The Portuguese has scored five goals in his last five FA Cup appearances, netting in each of his last three in a row.
The last United player to score in four consecutive FA Cup games was Romelu Lukaku in 2018.
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- Nottingham Forest have progressed from four of their five previous FA Cup ties against Manchester United, although the only exception was the most recent, losing 0-1 in the third round in 1989-90.
- Manchester United have already lost at the City Ground this season, losing their Premier League visit in December (2-1). The Red Devils last lost back-to-back away games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions in December 1984.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: Team news
Nottingham Forest XI: Turner, Williams, Felipe, Murillo, Toffolo, Yates, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Origi, Awoniyi.
Subs: Odysseas, Kouyate, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Niakhate, Reyna, Omobamidele, Ribeiro, Gardner.
Manchester United XI: Onana, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Amrabat, Casemiro, Fernandes, McTominay, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.
Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Kambwala, Ogunneye, Amad, Collyer, Eriksen, Forson, Mainoo.
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- Nottingham Forest are aiming to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the second time in the last three seasons (also 2021-22), after having only reached the last eight in two of their previous 30 campaigns prior to this.
- Manchester United are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for what would be a record 48th time. They’re currently tied with Everton on 47 quarter-final appearances in the competition.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: What has been said?
Fernandes and Marcus Rashford should be sold due to being ‘everything that is wrong with United’.
Speaking on the Hawsbee & Groves, Groves said: “Manchester United are still rotten. Erik ten Hag is swimming against the tide.
“If you were a new manager going in the two players I’d get rid of straight away are Bruno Fernanes and Marcus Rashford.
“They’re everything that is wrong with Manchester United.
“They’re lazy. Bruno Fernandes is never a captain in a million years – I said that after they lost 7-0 at Anfield and he was trying to do his socks or his shinpads or whatever.
“The other thing that epitomises it is that Alex Iwobi’s goal was a brilliant, counter-attacking goal – by the time Iwobi scores the goal, Victor Lindelof hasn’t made the halfway line and he’s a defender.”
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- Nottingham Forest have drawn three of their FA Cup matches this season (W1), with both their third and fourth round ties going to a replay. The last Premier League club to draw four or more games in a single FA Cup campaign were Middlesbrough under Gareth Southgate in 2006-07 (6).
- Bruno Fernandes has scored five goals in his last five FA Cup appearances, netting in each of his last three in a row. The last Manchester United player to score in four consecutive FA Cup games was Romelu Lukaku in 2018.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: talkSPORT coverage
This FA Cup fifth round clash will take place on Wednesday, February 28.
Kick-off at the City Ground is scheduled for 19:45pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from Nottingham, presented by Adrian Durham from Liverpool v Southampton.
Commentary comes from Jim Proudfoot and former Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Townsend.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
