Manchester United vs. Nottingham Forest

February 28, 2024

SpookyExpress previews Wednesday's FA Cup clash between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, including betting pick, team news, and possible starting XIs.

Manchester United travel to take on Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday, 28 February.

Forest already beat Manchester United 2-1 at The City Ground earlier this season (30 December), when second-half goals from Nicolás Domínguez and Morgan Gibbs-White secured Forest's first win over Manchester United since December 1994, when they won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were previously unbeaten in 12 consecutive matches against Nottingham Forest across all competitions, winning 11 in a row. Their streak also included four wins alone in 2022-23 as well as a 3-2 comeback victory at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest threw away a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford back in August. Early goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly were canceled as Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, and Bruno Fernandes all scored to complete Manchester United's comeback.

Nottingham Forest Betting Preview (+205 at Everygame)

Nuno Espírito Santo's side will welcome Manchester United off the back of a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. It came after a 2-0 home victory over West Ham United last weekend - their first league win of the calendar year.

With just one victory in their last six league matches (losing four of them), Nottingham Forest is involved in the relegation battle and things are not getting any better. Forest will host league leaders Liverpool next weekend before back-to-back visits to Brighton and Luton Town before next month's international break.

Forest is 17^th in the Premier League table, four points above 18^th place Luton Town, who also have a game in hand.

The situation is similar to the moment of Steve Cooper's sacking and Nuno's appointment just before Christmas when the Portuguese manager arrived at Forest and his new side was sitting five points above the drop zone.

To make things worse, Nottingham Forest was charged with breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules in their accounts for 2022-23, so a point deduction could be a realistic threat.

Nottingham Forest were already dragged into two replays earlier in their FA Cup campaign as they had to beat Blackpool in extra-time in mid-January before a penalty shootout win over Bristol City earlier this month.

The likes of Ola Aina, Willy-Arnaud Boly, and Ibrahim Sangare are still yet to return to full fitness after reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with their countries (Nigeria and Ivory Coast).

Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed that none of the aforementioned trio, as well as Nuno Tavares and Chris Wood, will return for Wednesday's FA Cup clash. The New Zealand center-forward is yet to feature since the 2-1 home loss to Arsenal last month, while Tavares sustained an injury against West Ham.

Anthony Elanga will probably be given a chance to feature against his former club as the Swedish winger has been a regular starter over the last few weeks.

Manchester United Betting Preview (+130 at Everygame)

The Red Devils, last year’s defeated finalists, are out to continue Erik ten Hag’s solid record in the domestic cups as they are bidding to win the oldest football competition in the world for the 13^th time (and first time since 2016).

Indeed, a ninth trip to the FA Cup quarter-finals in ten years is on Manchester United’s agenda when they travel to Nottingham Forest this week. The FA Cup is Manchester United’s only chance of silverware this season having suffered early exits in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Erik ten Hag’s side will be eager to return to winning ways after they suffered a setback in their top-four charge last weekend. United were enjoying an unbeaten start to 2024, which came to an end when Fulham dramatically earned all three points at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Elimination would lead to massive pressure on Ten Hag to keep his job, as United travel to face bitter rivals Manchester City on Sunday for another crucial game.

The Manchester United boss admitted that he was frustrated by the defending against Fulham and that he wants to see an improvement from his players in the FA Cup fifth-round tie away to Nottingham Forest.

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was substituted early in the second half against Fulham so neither Christian Eriksen or Scott McTominay are on standby, even though Ten Hag revealed that Victor Lindelof and Casemiro are both fit for the trip to Nottingham Forest.

However, Harry Maguire has been ruled out of Manchester United’s FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest while Raphael Varane and Bruno Fernandes are both doubts for Wednesday.

With Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka already sidelined and Luke Shaw suffering another injury that could even rule him out for the remainder of the campaign, Ten Hag doesn't have many options to reshuffle his backline.

Should Varane and Fernandes not be able to play, the Red Devils would have a total of 10 players sidelined with Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund already sidelined.

Possible Starting Lineups of Nottingham Forest and Manchester United

Nottingham Forest: Matz Sels - Neco Williams, Moussa Niakhate, Andrew Omobamidele, Harry Toffolo - Nicolas Domínguez, Danilo - Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi - Taiwo Awoniyi. (4-2-3-1)

Manchester United: Andre Onana - Diogo Dalot, Raphaël Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof - Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo - Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho - Marcus Rashford. (4-2-3-1)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction

Erik ten Hag's side need to show an improvement if they are to progress in the FA Cup - the only trophy they can still win this season. And considering all the changes in the club's management, this could be Ten Hag's last opportunity to save his job - a top-four finish and the FA Cup are the bare minimum if he wants to convince the new owners that he's the right man for the job.

Even though Premier League survival remains the top priority for Forest, another victory on Wednesday against a Manchester United side, whom they have already beaten two months ago, could serve as a springboard for a much-needed positive run of form in the final weeks of the campaign.

Erik ten Hag's side has won their last five away games across all competitions. Their last defeat on the road came against Wednesday's opponents and United will be looking to convert their scoring chances this time.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Totals - X2 and Over 2.5 Goals +155 at Everygame for 5/10 Units

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