MAN UTD 3, NOTTM FOREST 0
Manchester United had the Premier League’s top four in their sights following their comprehensive home victory against Nottingham Forest.
The Reds remain fifth but are only one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played one less match.
And the manner of the victory against Forest, courtesy of goals from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred suggested a Champions League place is within their grasp.
Quite a contrast to the opening two games of the campaign when awful defeats to Brighton and Brentford saw them bottom and propping up the table.
Erik ten Hag’s side is playing has found an identity and is playing with poise and purpose and looking a team rather than a collection of individuals when he took charge.
And nobody epitomises that more than Rashford who is playing again with a smile on his face having last season admitted to falling out of love with the game.
Embed from Getty ImagesRashford, whose 64th Premier League goal saw him draw level with legend Eric Cantona, said: “I don’t know if it is as good as I’ve ever been playing but I’m definitely enjoying it.
“We’re winning a lot more football games and our level has been a lot higher. Happy with how were developing and hope we can keep kicking on.
“It’s a completely different mindset to last season, a different team playing different football.
“For me, when you’re not in the team and coming on there is a different mindset and you have to think about making an impact and you’re not sure when you get another chance or another goal.
“But I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the minute.”
Ten Hag’s only criticism was that his side did not win by a wider margin as he explained: “We have to score more goals. We created so many chances and it take us just before the end to score the third goal, We need to take this moment earlier.
“Just before half-time we had two really good chances to finish the game. There are many games to come, you can then save energy and is better for everyone. For the progress of the team, we need to be more clinical.
“You can see Martial and Rashford are goalscorers, Bruno Fernandes will score goals, but we have to be ruthless.”
Ten Hag was delighted with the clean sheet, especially as the back four had never played together before and Luke Shaw had never played centre back before.
There was praise for Casemiro, the Reds’ man of the match, as he controlled the midfield. Ten Hag added: “It is a pleasure to work with Casemiro and everyone sees how important his role is and the level he brings into the team.
“I think the players grow into the season and I think they performed well in the World Cup and now they continue. Stay in the performance, stay in the level, keep progressing game to game.”
Forest manager Steve Cooper said: “I just felt we could’ve backed ourselves a bit more in the game. We got in between the lines two or three times in the first half but didn’t make the most of it. In the end you do have to make the most of those situations at this level.
“I’m a big believer in looking at the process of the performance. I was more frustrated at times with a lack of quality at times at the top end of the pitch, a lack of belief in decision making and taking risks and backing ourselves.”
Goalkeeper David de Gea and centre-back Raphael Varane returned as ten Hag made four changes from last week’s EFL Cup win over Burnley.
Skipper Harry Maguire, who missed the game through illness, was named on the bench as ten Hag named just one recognised centre back.
Fellow England international Luke Shaw returned to the starting line-up as did Brazil winger Antony, with keeper Martin Dubravka, centre-back Victor Lindelof, midfielder Scott McTominay and forward Alejandro Garnacho dropping out, Lindelof and McTominay through illness.
Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez was still missing after helping his nation win the World Cup win while Jadon Sancho remains unavailable.
Former United forward Jesse Lingard started for Forest on his return to Old Trafford.
Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was in the visitors’ goal with on-loan Dean Henderson ineligible to face his parent club.
Hennessey’s return was one of three changes made by Forest boss Steve Cooper from last week’s EFL Cup win at Blackburn.
Right-back Serge Aurier had overcome a calf complaint to replace Neco Williams while Renan Lodi was preferred to Harry Toffolo at left-back.
As incessant rain fell at kick off, United made a bright start and were unlucky not to take a sixth minute lead.
Left-back Tyrell Malacia’s angled drive was deflected by Hennessey on to the upright with the keeper knowing little about where the ball was destined.
United made a 19th minute breakthrough as Forest were undone from a set-piece.
Christian Eriksen’s short corner was met by Rashford who, after slipping marker Willy Boly, fired high into the far corner. It was his 10th goal of the season, double last season’s total.
And United doubled their advantage three minutes later with Rashford providing the assist with a break down the left.
He squared a pass for Martial to score with a low drive from just inside the box, his fifth goal of the campaign. Hennessey got a strong hand, but the ball squirmed into the net.
Forest responded with a 30-yard drive from Ryan Yates which troubled David De Gea as the ball struck his shoulder before going out for a corner.
The visitors thought they had halved the deficit four minutes before the break when Yates headed home a free kick from Renan Lodi only for it to be ruled out after two VAR checks.
The initial one was for a possible handball which it clearly wasn’t, but Boly, who got the final touch to Yates’ header, was in an offside position when the free kick was delivered.
United came close to a third goal early in the second half when Antony was denied by a smart stop from Hennessey following a great move involving Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
Hennessey also kept out a low Martial shot with his legs as United looked to kill off the game.
United made a double change midway through the second period as Martial and Antony were replaced by Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho.
And the pair immediately combined down the left to set up Rashford whose shot was kept out by the legs of Hennessey while there was a shout for a penalty for handball against Remo Freuler.
De Gea was also summoned into action to block a cheeky back heel from Brennan Johnson.
Hennessey was by far the busier as he acrobatically turned over a chip from Casemiro while Fernandes’ audacious lob from near the centre circle narrowly cleared the crossbar.
United made two further changes with 13 minutes left as Eriksen and Raphael Varane made way for Fred and Harry Maguire.
The fifth Reds’ change with four minutes left saw Rashford replaced by Anthony Elanga.
United’s third goal in the 87th minute was made in Brazil. Casemiro picked up a loose ball in midfield and released Fred on the left with a superb diagonal pass. And Fred finished with great aplomb with a shot to the left of Hennessey for his second goal of the campaign.
Fred became the fifth Reds’ substitute to score in the Premier League this season, no team has netted more.