Man Utd Player Ratings vs. Nottingham Forest: Dramatic Last-Gasp Strike Salvages Crucial Point

A spectacular last-minute effort from Amad Diallo secured Manchester United a 2–2 tie against Nottingham Forest, continuing the team's undefeated streak to four matches.

The match coincided with the first anniversary of Ruben Amorim's arrival at Old Trafford, and he would have been satisfied with the first-half performance as Casemiro's strike put the Red Devils ahead at the break.

The opener came amid disputed circumstances, with Forest insisting the ball hadn't crossed the line for the corner kick that led to Casemiro's unmarked header, and this contentious call seemed to energize the hosts who responded impressively in the second period.

Morgan Gibbs-White restored parity with a header from Ryan Yates's delivery, before Nicolo Savona capitalized on sloppy United defending to give Forest a 2–1 advantage.

However, after Bruno Fernandes struck the woodwork and Callum Hudson-Odoi fired wide, Amad produced a magnificent volley from beyond the box to secure a point for United and lift them to fifth in the Premier League standings.

Man Utd Player Ratings vs. Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Senne Lammens—5.6: Had little chance to stop Forest's two strikes but struggled with his passing accuracy, managing only 61% completion rate throughout the match.

CB: Leny Yoro—6.4: Handled the ball well as United maintained possession but appeared unsettled during the opening stages of the second half.

CB: Matthijs de Ligt—6.8: Failed to rise for the cross that resulted in Forest's second goal—a frustrating moment that saw the Dutch defender positioned directly above Yoro.

CB: Luke Shaw—6.8: Occasionally troubled by the movement of Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus but delivered another reliable performance from the 30-year-old.

RWB: Amad Diallo—6.9: Found it challenging to handle Hudson-Odoi's skill and pace at times but contributed significantly in attack. His exceptional technique for the equalizer was worth the price of admission.

CM: Casemiro—8.6: Delivered another energetic and determined midfield performance capped by the opening goal. The Brazilian continues to demonstrate his value at elite level.

CM: Bruno Fernandes—8.2: United's skipper displayed excellent passing range, mixing simple distribution with ambitious attempts. Unfortunate not to find the net when his long-range effort struck Sels's upright.

LWB: Diogo Dalot—6.7: Lost out to Savona when the ball fell loose in United's box—a momentary lapse that Amorim could have done without.

RF: Bryan Mbeumo—7.2: The Cameroonian possesses that special quality, hinting at potential brilliance at any time. Delivered several perfectly weighted passes to create chances for United.

ST: Benjamin Šeško—6.1: Worked hard up front, giving Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo physical challenges, but his first touch disappointed on several occasions.

LF: Matheus Cunha—8.4: Provided his characteristic energy and creativity to United's forward play and showed willingness to take on Forest's defense. Also contributed defensively, which would have pleased Amorim.

Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee.

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Matz Sels; Nicolo Savana, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Douglas Luiz, Elliot Anderson; Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.

Subs used: Ryan Yates, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ibrahim Sangaré.

Subs not used: John Victor (GK), Jair Cunha, Morato, James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Omari Hutchinson.

Player of the Match: Casemiro (Man Utd)

Nottingham Forest 2–2 Man Utd—How It Developed at the City Ground

The atmosphere in both camps was strikingly different as the referee started the action in the east Midlands. Forest had managed just five points and five goals from their first nine fixtures, while United were full of confidence following three consecutive victories under Amorim.

United's restored confidence showed in an encouraging opening that featured good combination play between Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, though the Slovenian's third-minute attempt was deflected for a corner.

Keeper Senne Lammens also made an early intervention, pushing Dan Ndoye's fierce shot over the crossbar with both hands, before Amad challenged Matz Sels's reach with a deflected strike heading for the top corner.

The game's momentum changed when Savona was ruled to have played the ball out for a United corner—the linesman making this call despite being positioned on the far side—and the controversial decision caught Forest off guard, allowing Casemiro to head home Fernandes's delivery without challenge.

Deadlock = broken 🔓 pic.twitter.com/8ySnjqLf8B

The ruling clearly motivated Sean Dyche and his squad as they emerged aggressively for the second half. Yates's lofted cross to the far post was contested by Gibbs-White and Amad, with the Forest midfielder showing greater determination than United's converted wingback to direct a precisely placed header into Lammens's corner.

While the home supporters were still celebrating, Forest attacked again and caught United unprepared to take a 2–1 lead. Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt couldn't outmuscle Igor Jesus aerially, and the loose ball was seized by the alert Savona, who got ahead of the dozing Diogo Dalot to control and finish from close quarters.

A hectic spell then saw Fernandes hit Sels's post from 25 yards—the Portuguese's shot was well-aimed but lacked power—and Casemiro couldn't direct the rebound goalward with his boot.

The dangerous Callum Hudson-Odoi, who caused Amad problems on the left flank and proved troublesome when drifting centrally, sent a fierce low shot wide as Forest sought to seal victory, but United would have the final say through Amad's excellence.

Mbeumo's corner was partially cleared by Forest and the ball eventually reached Amad on the penalty area's edge—with one swing of his left foot he fired a thunderous volley into Sels's bottom right corner, sending the visiting supporters into ecstasy while maintaining United's positive trajectory under Amorim.

Nottingham Forest vs. Man Utd Half-Time Stats

Nottingham Forest vs. Man Utd Full-Time Stats