Forest recorded their first win at Old Trafford since 1994 in a thrilling encounter played under the lights at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
For the second time this week, Manchester rain beat down as Forest emerged from the tunnel and got the ball rolling underneath the illuminated turf of Old Trafford. An early corner was won by Forest inside minute one as a ball rolled out after flicking off the base of the corner flag.
A whipped delivery by Elliot Anderson was met by a bullet header from Serbian summer signing Milenkovic, cannoning past Onana and into the back of the net. The away end was sent into raptures, opposingly Old Trafford was stunned into silence. No team has scored the opening goal in a Premier League game this season more times than Forest (12).
Dalot curled an effort from 25 yards wide after a spell of possession from the hosts before Fernandes dragged an effort beyond the far post as Forest kept an organised defensive shape whilst looking explosive on the turn-over with the pace available from Hudson-Odoi and Jota Silva.
The hosts were level after 17 minutes as a ball slipped through by Ugarte for Garnacho was smothered by the onrushing Sels with the loose ball dropping kindly at the feet of Højlund who had an empty net to roll the ball home.
The conditions were creating a fast-paced game with the ball zipping off the turf as both teams looked to create the next opening to go ahead.
Some fantastic pressing by Wood resulted in a free kick awarded to Forest midway inside the United half. Murillo stepped up and floated a ball to the back post which was met by Yates who planted a header back across the box, only for Jota Silva to see his header crash off the bar.
The Portuguese winger was heavily involved in all the action the first half had produced to this point. Forest pressing high up again and Jota’s effort deflecting over for a corner. The resulting delivery falling to him at the back post before his layoff to Murillo saw a shot skim the wrong side of Onana’s post.
With ten minutes to the break Anderson stood over another Forest corner. His delivery was cleared but Forest recycled the ball well, bringing groans of frustration from the United faithful as they were unable to assert any type of dominance.
Despite seemingly winning the ball, a freekick given against a Milenkovic challenge on the 40-minute mark presented an opportunity for the home side. Captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and rattled the bar with a curling effort that clipped the wall on its way to goal. Matz Sels getting the telling touch to prevent Forest heading into the interval behind.
