Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man United – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Red Devils defender Raphael Varane almost puts through his own net

Niakhate has the ball not far from the Forest goal and he has so much time in possession with no United players trying to close him down at all.

Forest are able to get bodies forward and Dominguez cuts in off the right and looks to feed Elanga inside the box, but McTominay gets across well to clear the danger.

Better from Forest, who are bringing a bit more energy in this half.

There’s certainly a bit more zip to Forest’s play so far in the opening minutes of this half, with Aina, Dominguez and Gibbs-White all combining well.

But Danilo gives it away straight to Rashford a moment later, but instead of play a straight forward pass the forward tries to backheel it into space for one of his team-mates – who are clearly not on the same wave length to run onto.

He sprinted back to help his team after he passed it straight to Turner with the speed of a player who knows just how poor the mistake he has made is.

So we’re back underway now, and there’s been a change at the break.

McTominay is on for Mainoo in what is thought to be a tactical tweak.

Forest legend Des Walker was ot at half-time soaking up some applause from the City Ground fans.

Over 340 appearances for the club – they don’t come much bigger than him round these parts!

A strong defensive display from the hosts has them in good stead at the break, but there is still work to do in attack.

Wood has had precious little to feed on so far, but the one real opportunity he had on the ball was wasted when he sent it flying well over Onana’s goal.

Montiel, Aina, Dominguez and Elanga are getting into decent positions out wide, but rather than take on their full back they’re coming back inside, and it’s just too easy to defend against.

Plenty to build on for the visitors but a bit more energy and drive wouldn’t go amiss!

Five and a half hours now since United last scored away in the Premier League, but the way Rashford has been playing tonight as the No 9, that could top the six hour mark by the end of the game.

The hosts came flying out of the traps and looked set to press high up the field and make things difficult for the visitors, but the energy gradually sapped out of this one 15 minutes in.

United were fairly poor in attack, taking a few too many touches on the ball and therefore unable to build up any sort of momentum, while Forest were wasteful with the half-chances they had from corners.

It is very windy out there, but Gibbs-White in particular has struggled with his crossing accuracy, although he has been a good source of energy and running in midfield for Forest.

There’s plenty to improve upon from both sides in the second period, but Espirito Santo will undoubteldy be the happier of the two managers, with his side sitting in well and holding firm, although there has been little in the shape of serious pressure on Turner’s goal.

Plenty to imporve upon, and you can be sure that we’ll be getting a few more fireworks when we get back underway in a few minutes!

Well that’s that from a half that promised a lot early on, but delivered fairly little all told.

Just the one minute added on here at the City Ground – and that feels generous.

Late drama on the cards? Let’s see…

Gibbs-White receives it on the half-turn before feeding Elanga who commits Varane and wins himself a corner.

The devlieries have not been great from Gibbs-White so far, but he has shown drive whenever he gets on the ball, which the crowd have appreciated.

This time the ball is better but Onana punches thunderously most of the way back to halfway – brilliant stuff from teh keeper!

The crowd have been giving it the ironic cheers everytime Onana gets a touch on the ball, which about tells you how this one has been going.

Forest have a free-kick which allows Gibbs-White to clip a cross into the box, but a poor touch from Murillo gives United a throw.

But rather than try and get things going with Forest full committed in attack, Dalot takes an age with ball in hand before sending a hopeless one down the line – it’s all a bit too slow from the visitors!

Things have all just become a little bit… pedestrian now as we near half-time.

Dominguez thinks he should have a corner after a challenge from Wan-Bissaka, and he does have a point to be fair judging by the replays.

Problem for United though so far is that most of the time they’re getting the ball in and around the halfway line it’s three, four touches rather than one out of the feet and play.

It’s difficult to strike any sort of threat in attack when players are spending too long in possession.

Wan-Bissaka then gets technically United’s first shot of the game.

Dalot does well attacking the Forest box before laying it off to Eriksen.

Eriksen knocks it straight to the right back who just swings a leg at it, but it takes a deflection and all the sting comes out of it as it trickles into Turner’s hands.

Not exactly known for his prodigious form in front of goal, is Wan-Bissaka

Elanga is on the ball on the right and squares up Dalot.

But instead of taking the full back on, he cuts back in on his left and lays it off for Yates to have a crack, but he leans way too far back and it’s up into Row Z.

Sir Dave Brailsford is in the house tonight, sat alongside his fellow knight of the realm Sir Alex Ferguson.

The INEOS man has not exactly been treated to a feast of footballing fun tonight, but there’s still plenty of time left in this one.

After a decent start, we’ve settled into a bit of a simmer here, with much of the attacking play coming through Antony down the United right.

Check out the story below for more on Brailsford…

Gibbs-White is stood over yet another corner now, and he sends it into the centre of the melee.

The first cross is headed clear, and so is the second, before a shot comes in at the third attempt from Danilo that clatters straight into Wan-Bissaka’s midriff and cannons out for a throw.

He won’t show it for the cameras, but you know that one stung the United right back.

All 10 outfield players are in the Forest half for United now as they send the ball first one way, then the other.

Eriksen is taking a higher up position but he can’t get the supply to work his magic, and after a lengthy spell on the ball, Evans gives away a free-kick that renders much of the pressure the visitors were building useless.

Nothing really the threaten the hosts at the moment, but then again the hosts haven’t really come too close either.

United are getting plenty of bodies forward, but there’s not a huge amount in the way of crosses or shots coming from their possession.

It’s all a little easy for Forest to just sit behind and pounce once they do win it back.

Wan-Bissaka lofts a pretty half-hearted ball cross field to Garnacho but it doesn’t reach him with Forest content in biding their time at the moment.

Jonny Evans reacquaints himself with Anthony Elanga, with the Forest man just helping his former team-mate into a sliding block to clear the danger and concedes a free-kick for it.

Evans had done pretty well to get across against a much greener Elanga.

United have a few chances to get feet on the ball now, and Mainoo is doing well to break through the line and link up with Fernandes.

The Portugal star is held up by a combination of Dominguez and Aina, but United can keep hold of the ball – no pun intended – from the throw-in.

They just need to get a few more passes flowing and flex those creative muscles early on and really settle into the game.

Forest are now starting to cause a few more issues for United.

Varane gets in the way of a cross across the front of goal, and the deflection wrong-foots Onana who had come flying off his line.

Fortunately for the visitors there was no attacker waiting to pounce, but that was an awkward little moment for a United backline which, let’s face it, aren’t exactly flowing with confidence right now.

Gibbs-White’s ball in is better this time, but still not quite on the top of a Frest head.

Murillo has an effort on the follow up but it goes wide of the mark and won’t trouble Onana.

It’s been all Forest though so far in this one, with the hosts more than happy on the ball.

Montiel wins them another corner to huge roars from the crowd – can they make these opportunites count early on?

The early phases of this game have been promising, with Forest pressing high up the pitch in pursuit of possession in dangerous areas.

United have looked to get forward whenever they can get the ball back, and a few shaky moments from Turner in goal will surely give them plenty of encouragement to hunt high up the field themselves.

Aina and Wood combine just outside the United box, but if anything the striker has too much space and goes for goal from outside the box.

Let’s just say he won’t want to see the replays back from that one…

The visitors now get a corner, after a really poor pass out the back from Turner puts his defence in a spot of bother.

Fernandes’ delivery is deflected out to the edge of the box, and after it gets worked out wide again Garnacho’s cross is defelected behind – but the referee has given a goal kick!

That looked a poor decision there, clear deflection.

In it comes but Gibbs-White’s ball is awful, and loops over everyone in the box and out for a goal kick to United.

Waste, that, after a good start from the hosts.

Gibbs-White gets the crowd going early on as he picks up the ball inside the United box.

He’s turned away and feeds Montiel who crosses for Dominguez, but the host is out for a corner after less than 60 seconds!

Well after a few last words from Gibbs-White to his team-mates, we’re underway with the hosts getting things going!

Here we go then – it’s almost game time.

The hosts are waiting in the tunnel a moment or so until the visitors join them, Fernandes chugging away an energy gel.

It’s not been the fortress this term it was last season, but the City Ground gives a warm, noisy greeting for the teams as they make their way out onto the pitch.

Must be pretty annoying for Hojlund – scoring his first ever Premier League goal at last before getting ill and missing the opportunity to make it two in two.

Both the Dane and Martial are sick and therefore can’t feature, but it’s also a big opportunity for Rashford tonight, starting through the middle.

He’s been in poor form so far this season, that’s no secret, but he could give Ten Hag a decision to make next time out if he can get a couple here at the City Ground.

Just 10 minutes to go now until kick-off!

The last time these two met back in August it was a five-goal thriller that to-ed and fro-ed throughout – will we get the same this time round?

Not long to go now until we find out…

We mentioned it was a young team out there tonight for United with two teenage starters – here’s what Jamie Redknapp had to say about those two youngsters on Sky Sports.

Garnacho plays with no fear. He’s got that star quality about him. Mainoo as well, they seem to be leading the way. He wants the ball all the time (Garnacho).

You have to be so comfortable on the ball but they have no problem giving it to Mainoo.

They’ve been out there getting warmed up ahead of tonight’s game – and it’s a good thing too with the thermometer currently reading a toasty 11 degrees.

Signs of rain to come later on but let’s hope for nothing like the deulge at the Emirates for Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to West Ham on Thursday night.

Amad Diallo is named on the bench tonight in what is a young Manchester United side that already has Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in the starting line-up.

He impressed last term on loan at Sunderland, but one particular video of him in United training has sparked something of a debate among fans.

You can take a look in the story below…

After two fine assists last time out for Chris Wood against Newcastle, Anthony Elanga starts against his former club United.

He’s been preforming pretty well for the Tricky Trees this term, too, with four goals and five assists in 19 games, almost a contribution every two games.

United’s forward line has not exactly been firing this term – will Elanga give his old employers a taste of what they let go tonight?

Conversely, this is one of United’s favourite fixtures in the calendar.

They’ve not lost their final league game of the year since 2011 – a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford to nearby Blackburn Rovers.

That’s 11 unbeaten from 11 since then, and five wins on the spin, including of course last time out against Forest.

Will 12 see them make it 12 without loss?

The final league game of the year has not really been much of a successful one for Forest in recent years, fans will be pleased to know.

They may have beaten Wigan in their final clash of 2019, but other than that it’s two draws and six defeats in the last nine years.

Not the best omen ahead of kick-off – which is only a little over half an hour away now.

Their final game of 2022? A 3-0 defeat to a certain Manchester-based team in red…

Well the pretty seismic news in the last few weeks at United has been Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club, following his succssful 25 per cent purchas of the club.

Our Man United correspondent Chris Wheeler was at Ten Hag’s pres conference and was on hand as Ten hag insisted that he still has the backing of INEOS.

You can read more about it at the story linked below too…

It all got a little bit heated earlier on when Jermaine Jenas and Rio Ferdinand gave their top four predictions after we reached the midway point in the Premier League season.

Ferdinand – maybe unsurprisingly – backed United, but Jenas was seemingly not entirely convinced of their credentials…

Do you think the Red Devils will be back in the Champions League again next year?

Check out the link below for more on that one…

Here’s a little look at the hosts arriving earlier on…

Forest have not actually won a match at home since November 5, in a marked change from their form at the City Ground last term.

They beat near-ish neighbours Aston Villa 2-0 that day, but have since lost to Brighton, Everton, Tottenham and Bournemouth, shipping nine goals in that period.

Can Espirito Santo stem the tide tonight?

Less than an hour to go until kick-off… who you backing for this one now we’ve seen the teams?

So that’s two changes for the hosts, with Dominguez and Yates in for Hudons-Odoi and Sangare to take on United tonight for Espirito Santo’s side.

The Red Devils make just the one change, with Hojlund out and Antony coming into the side, presumably slotting on on the wing with Rashford in at No 9.

Hojlund of course was ruled out with illness, and you can read more about that in the story linked below…

And the final XI for United in 2023 looks like this…

Here’s how the hosts will be lining up…

We’ve got team news coming up just round the corner which we will be bringing you as soon as it drops.

But we know that at least one starter from Boxing Day won’t be in the side for the visitors, with Hojlund out due to illness, as confirmed by the club.

United have not been firing on all cylinders this season – that’s for sure.

But one former club legend is predicting big things for the Red Devils in the new year, as they prepare to close out a mixed 2023 to say the least.

Where do you think the visitors will end up at the end of the season?

Check out what Ferdinand had to say about them below…

A look at the numbers should prove fun reading for the visitors.

In the last 11 meetings, United have won each and every clash since 1994.

In fact, the Red Devils have won each of the last four clashes at the City Ground by an aggregate score of 17-1.

Could be a busy night for whoevers in the home net tonight if the visitors can keep up that form…

So, as we’ve already mentioned there were big wins for these two last time out.

Chris Wood inspired Nottingham Forest to their first win of the Nuno Espirito Santo era against the New Zealand international’s former club Newcastle, with three of the best to get the Tricky Trees’ new dawn up and running.

Meanwhile Aston Villa went 2-0 up at Old Trafford only for an Alejandro Garnacho double and Rasmus Hojlund’s first goals in United colours to win a massive three points for Erik ten Hag’s side, although that pressure has never really receded from the manager’s doorstep.

With six goals between them last match, will we be in for a goal fest once more tonight?

The hosts are in the building already putting the final touches on their preparations…

At this point in the season, pretty much every team going has their injury problems.

Erik ten Hag is of the opinion that his side have been particularly ravaged by fitness issues, though, although there are a few faces set to return pretty soon.

The Dutchman believes no other club would have been able to deal with the blows his side have been getting in terms of injuries – are we buying that or do you reckon other teams have had a worse time of things?

You can check out more of what Ten Hag had to say down below…

A cloudy, cloudy old City Ground welcomes these two – let’s hope the weather holds off as long as possible!