Forest complete league double over Man Utd | OneFootball

Anthony Elanga scored a stunning solo effort to earn Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday night to consolidate third place in the division.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have punched above their weight all season, and the defensive nous instilled by the former Wolves manager was again on display as Forest kept United at bay after Elanga's 5th minute strike against his former club.

The Swedish winger's goal was fitting to win any game, the pacy wide man running almost the entire pitch after a Red Devils corner was cleared into his path. After surging into United's area, there was still work to be done, but Elanga's scuffed left-footed effort had enough on it to roll past Andre Onana in the visitors' goal.

Since making the move to Forest from United for £15m in 2023, seeking regular playing time, Elanga has sparkled in the Midlands and he now has 14 goal involvements (six goals and eight assists) to his name this season.

United did have their moments with Diogo Dalot’s header against the crossbar and Bruno Fernandes' dipping drive the closest they came to breaching their hosts' stubborn backline.

To their credit, Forest tenaciously defended their advantage - and their fantastic defensive work was typified by a goal-line clearance from Brazilian defender Murillo in the dying stages of the contest.

Three more valuable points for Forest mean they are eight points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea and looking ever more likely to secure Champions League football for next season.

United, meanwhile, remain stranded in 13th in the table, the lack of purpose and character that has been evident for large swathes of this season again evident despite their best efforts.