Anthony Elanga scored a decisive early goal against his former club as Nottingham Forest defeated Manchester United 1-0 at the City Ground on Tuesday, April 1st, further strengthening Forest’s surprising push for a Champions League place while deepening United’s season of struggle.
Elanga, who left Old Trafford two years ago, struck in the fifth minute. The Swedish winger embarked on a run covering two-thirds of the pitch before firing past the Manchester United goalkeeper. The goal marked the 23rd time Forest have scored the opening goal in a Premier League match this season, more than any other side.
Manchester United, suffering their 13th league defeat of the campaign (just one short of their Premier League era record of 14 set last season), offered little in response. Diogo Dalot came closest in the first half, striking the crossbar with a header. Despite manager Ruben Amorim introducing substitutes Rasmus Højlund, Mason Mount, and Harry Maguire, the visitors lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third. Mount fizzed a late strike wide, and Murillo made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Maguire in stoppage time.4
“We controlled the game, but we already knew this team can score goals out of nothing,” United manager Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports. “When they scored we changed the game a little bit… We tried with good opportunities, but in the last third, the last pass, the last assist wasn’t there.”
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s effort: “Suffer, hard work, believe, helping each other, clearance on the line. It was a very hard game for us… The records, the boys are breaking all of them and today the City Ground was part of the game.”
The victory keeps Nottingham Forest firmly in third place, now eight points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea. The win completes Forest’s first league double over Manchester United since the 1991-92 season.6 Manchester United remain languishing in 13th place.
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