Manchester United’s wait for back-to-back Premier League wins continues, with the Red Devils having slipped to a 13th top-flight defeat of the season away to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
Frustratingly for Ruben Amorim, his side had largely put in an encouraging performance at the City Ground, albeit while being undone on the counter in the early knockings of the game, as former United man Anthony Elanga – perhaps inevitably – converted following a stunning surging run from his own half.
The visitors were largely untroubled otherwise, although – as has been the norm in 2024/25 so far – they simply failed to offer the cutting edge at the other end of the pitch, with the decision not to start Rasmus Hojlund having certainly backfired.
The Danish number nine did provide a much needed focal point when he was introduced as Joshua Zirkzee dropped into a deeper role, although it wasn’t until the last-gasp introduction of makeshift striker, Harry Maguire, that United actually came close to drawing level, with the towering centre-back having notably been denied on the line by opposite number Murillo.
As it is, Amorim will be left to reflect on another night of what might have been for his stuttering side, with the Portuguese simply needing to find a way to get his attacking unit, including Alejandro Garnacho, firing once again.
Alejandro Garnacho's game in numbers vs Forest
The Argentine starlet – who was awarded a remarkably harsh 2/10 match rating by Express journalist, Alex Turk – may not have been at his sparkling best, yet once again, he offered the only real threat in the final third for the away side.
Yes, the end product is lacking, having now scored just twice in 28 games since the change in the dugout, yet the 20-year-old was a real livewire in the second half, in particular, having notably racked up four key passes as he looked to make things happen for his side.
On another day, the United academy graduate could have got himself on the scoresheet more than once after lashing over the bar on a few occasions, having also seen one volleyed effort squirm agonisingly past the post late on.
Minutes played
86
90+
Touches
48
82
Goals/Assists
1
0
Pass accuracy
79%
94%
Key passes
0
4
Successful dribbles
6/9
2/5
Successful crosses
0/3
0/7
Duels won
9/15
4/13
Possession lost
18x
18x
Shots off target
0
3
Shots blocked
0
3
There remains a feeling that Garnacho “should be on the bench” once Amad Diallo returns from injury, in the words of writer Zach Lowy, yet at present, the ex-Atletico Madrid man remains the only spark in a lifeless United forward line.
Indeed, time and again the youngster was an outlet down the left flank, having notably taken the ball in his stride beautifully following a lofted pass over the top from Bruno Fernandes, only to see his eventual effort denied by the sliding Ryan Yates.
Nothing came off in the end for Garnacho, but he certainly wasn’t the major villain, having hardly been afforded much support by the sluggish Patrick Dorgu behind him.
The Man Utd star who had a night to forget
Considering that the promising Dane previously saw red and set up a goal for the opposition in the same half against Ipswich Town, it says a lot that this latest outing was perhaps his worst in a United shirt to date.
Indeed, that 45-minute showing against the Tractor Boys had shown signs of promise as he charged up and down the left flank, before being dismissed, although on his return from that suspension, the 20-year-old was far more muted.
Like Garnacho, the January arrival failed to keep pace with the electric Elanga for what proved to be the game’s only goal, having also been rather subdued going forward.
What was particularly frustrating on the night was Dorgu’s at-times casual and wayward passing, having given the ball away on 16 occasions – or every five minutes – including in the build-up to Leny Yoro’s perfectly timed challenge on that man Elanga.
As The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell noted, that breakaway for the hosts had come after Dorgu “gave [the] ball away sloppily”, a moment that only epitomised what was a disappointing 90 minutes for the £30m man.
The aforementioned Turk also agreed, after handing the wing-back a measly 4/10 match rating, albeit while suggesting that he was ‘snubbed far too often’ by Garnacho ahead of him.
Whether that is the case or not, Dorgu’s own performance certainly deserves scrutiny, with it perhaps surprising that Amorim did not introduce a potential replacement in Harry Amass off the bench, particularly considering the 18-year-old had been kept out of Monday’s FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa.
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With the Manchester Derby next on the agenda, it may not be too much of a surprise to see Dorgu find himself back on the bench, with either a change in role for Mazraoui required, or a bold first start for the teenage Amass.
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