Nottingham Forest v Manchester United Live Commentary & Result, 25/01/2023, League Cup

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of Manchester United's 3-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The second leg will be played at Old Trafford on February 1, with Cooper's men needing a special performance if they are to overturn a three-goal deficit on opposition turf. United will be in FA Cup action before that game, hosting Reading in the fourth round on Saturday as they look to keep up their hunt for silverware in Ten Hag's first season in charge.

The referee blows the final whistle, bringing a dominant United display to a conclusion. They run out 3-0 winners and will head back to Old Trafford for the second leg with a commanding advantage after goals from Rashford, Weghorst and Fernandes. Rashford opened the scoring with an excellent run and finish after just six minutes, before Weghorst doubled the lead with his first United goal as he fired home a rebound from Antony's saved shot. Fernandes then added a third late on to surely put the tie beyond Forest's reach.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-3 MANCHESTER UNITED

90' + 2' The visitors are controlling possession as they look to see out the remaining minutes with their three-goal advantage intact.

90' There will be three minutes of additional time at the end of this match.

A. Elanga

Assist

89' Elanga's inventive pass was perfectly weighted to allow Fernandes to blast home United's third.

Bruno Fernandes

Goal

89' GOAL!!! What a strike!!! Fernandes gives United what could be an unassailable 3-0 lead in this tie. Elanga scoops the ball to Fernandes just inside the box, and the Portugal international fires a low first-time drive into the far corner past a despairing Hennessey.

87' United are defending resolutely as they look to maintain their clean sheet and take an advantage back to Old Trafford for the second leg.

A. Elanga

W. Weghorst

86' Having opened his account for United, Weghorst makes way for Elanga.

F. Pellistri

Yellow Card

84' Pellistri is booked for bringing down Williams on the edge of the box.

84' Pellistri gives the ball away to Dennis in a threatening area, but Martinez bails out his team-mate by winning it back before Forest can take advantage.

82' United have won their last five away EFL Cup games, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last four. It is their longest run of away wins in the competition's history and they look set to extend it here.

79' Pellistri picks out Weghorst with a powerful cross, but he misses the chance to grab his second of the game as his header flies harmlessly wide.

78' Fred picks up the ball and tries his luck from range, but he gets it wrong and watches his effort fly into the stands.

76' Ten Hag's side are dominating possession at the minute and are probing for a third goal which could put the tie beyond Forest's reach.

74' Williams' first action is to hoist a cross up to the back post, but Lingard mistimes his jump and the ball skims off his head for a goal-kick.

N. Williams

Renan Lodi

73' Cooper also brings on Williams for Lodi.

L. O'Brien

M. Gibbs-White

73' Gibbs-White limps off, with O'Brien on in his place.

Fred

C. Eriksen

71' Eriksen, so unlucky not to add a third when he hit the crossbar, makes way for Fred.

F. Pellistri

Antony

71' Antony is replaced by Pellistri in the first of a double change.

70' Eriksen swings a corner in as the visitors look for a third, but Aurier is well-placed to clear upfield.

68' Time is running out on the hosts if they are to haul themselves back into this first leg. While the tie would not be completely over were they to lose this first game, they would certainly be facing an uphill battle trying to overturn a deficit at Old Trafford.

66' Rashford's exquisite first-half goal means he is the first United player to score five or more goals in a single EFL Cup campaign since Carlos Tevez in the 2008-09 season.

E. Dennis

S. Surridge

64' Dennis is another to enter the fray, coming on for Surridge.

J. Lingard

Gustavo Scarpa

64' Lingard comes on against his former team, replacing the lively Scarpa.

64' Scarpa wins a corner for his team, but Gibbs-White's resulting delivery is poor and the opportunity is wasted.

62' Forest have progressed from all six of their EFL Cup semi-final ties, with this their first appearance in the last four since the 1991-92 season. It is the best 100 per cent progression rate in the competition's history, but it is at serious risk of coming to an end with United cruising.

60' So close! Gibbs-White nicks the ball away from Casemiro in a dangerous position, before trying to pick out the top corner. Unfortunately for him and the hosts, his shot goes just over.

J. Colback

Danilo

58' Colback comes on for Danilo in Forest's midfield.

A. Garnacho

M. Rashford

57' Rashford, scorer of United's opening goal, makes way for Garnacho.

56' Gibbs-White shows great skill to bring a ball down out of the air before letting fly, but he just pulls his shot a little and De Gea saves.

54' Off the bar!!! Antony tees up Eriksen to shoot outside the box, and the Denmark international's curling effort looks destined for the far corner, only to come off the outside of the woodwork and skim away from danger.

53' Danilo sends a tame effort at goal from 25 yards out, which De Gea is able to comfortably get down to and gather.

52' Some brilliant defending is required from Lindelof to nick the ball away from Johnson before the Forest man can get a shot away at goal.

50' United have now stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in all four of their EFL Cup games this season.

48' Antony lays a ball off to Weghorst and the striker looks to let fly. McKenna does excellently though to get back and block the shot behind for a corner, which then comes to nothing.

46' Forest kick us off and we are underway again. Can they find a way back into this semi-final?

The Red Devils are firmly in the ascendancy, and Cooper will have to change something if Forest are to take a result back to Old Trafford for the second leg. How long will he leave it before looking to the likes of Lingard and Dennis off the bench?

It is United who are in control of this cup tie at the break in the first leg, with goals from Rashford and Weghost putting them 2-0 up. The opener came after in-form Rashford picked up the ball from Casemiro, before driving past a couple of Forest defenders and lashing home. Surridge saw an equaliser ruled out after he was adjudged to be offside from Gibbs-White's pass, and Weghorst made them pay on the stroke of half-time as he finished a rebound from Antony's saved shot.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED

W. Weghorst

Goal

45' GOAL!!! United double their advantage!!! Weghorst opens his tally for the club with a true poacher's finish. Antony saw a dipping shot saved by Hennessey, but only into the path of Weghorst, who fired home first time to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

42' Fernandes tries an audacious cross with the outside of his right foot, but it has too much weight on it and goes behind harmlessly.

40' Scarpa takes aim from 30 yards out, but his effort flies well over De Gea's crossbar for a goal-kick.

38' The game has just hit a bit of a lull after a frantic opening. Can either side find a goal before half-time?

36' Fernandes picks out Rashford, but the goalscorer's first touch is far too heavy and the ball runs away for a goal-kick.

34' Forest have lost their last seven meetings with United in all competitions – they have never lost eight in a row against an opponent before. This is their first home game against the Red Devils since an 8-1 defeat in February 1999.

32' What a chance! Antony misses a golden opportunity to put his team 2-0 ahead. Clever inter-play puts the winger through on goal after a deft Fernandes pass, but his low shot cannot find a way past Hennessey, who saves with his legs.

31' Johnson shows some quick feet to beat a couple of United defenders, but he loses composure at the crucial moment as he blazes over.

30' The visitors are just enjoying a spell of possession here as they look for a period of calm following a couple of minutes of Forest pressure.

28' All of a sudden, United are on the ropes. Johnson latches onto a throughball, outpacing Wan-Bissaka. Unfortunately for Forest, his low drive does not really trouble De Gea, who easily gathers.

26' A corner is punched out but only to Scarpa just outside the box, and his first-time volley flies towards De Gea's goal. The goalkeeper does superbly though, diving acrobatically to his left to palm it away. This is a good spell for Forest.

24' It is ruled out!!! The pass from Gibbs-White to Surridge comes just slightly too late, with the forward having narrowly strayed offside, and the VAR review chalks off the goal. United breathe a big sigh of relief as their 1-0 lead remains intact!

22' GOAL!!! Forest are level!!! Gibbs-White strides forward with the ball, and lays a perfect pass left to Surridge. The striker takes a touch before brilliantly picking out the far corner to make it 1-1, totally against the run of play.

20' Cooper's side win a corner as they look to get back on level terms. Scarpa whips the set-piece in, but the visitors are able to clear at the second attempt.

18' United have won all three of their EFL Cup meetings with Forest – 4-0 in 1982-83 (quarter-final), 1-0 in 1991-92 (final) and 2-1 in 1998-99 (fourth round).

16' Forest look in trouble every time Ten Hag's men come forward, and they are perhaps lucky not to be further behind. They will have to find some defensive solutions soon or they risk this cup tie getting away from them.

14' Excellent build-up play sees United carve the hosts open again, but Antony cannot find the finish the move deserved as his curler goes wide.

12' Surridge is set away down the left wing, but Martinez shows his class to dispossess the Forest man and stamp out the danger.

10' Forest have failed to win their last six matches when conceding the opening goal in the EFL Cup dating back to August 2017 against Newcastle United.

8' Antony nearly adds a quick second with a curling effort after shifting onto his left foot, though his shot flies just past the post.

Casemiro

Assist

6' Casemiro picked out Rashford before the England international's sublime run and finish to give United the advantage.

M. Rashford

Goal

6' GOAL!!! United take the lead!!! It is that man again, as Marcus Rashford continues his scoring streak with a brilliant finish. He picks up the ball on the left and drives into the box, leaving a couple of Forest defenders for dead. The forward takes a moment to compose himself, before firing powerfully past Hennessy to put his team 1-0 up.

5' It has been a cagey opening to the match which United have just slightly shaded. We are yet to have a real clear-cut chance though.

3' There is an early mix-up in the Forest defence as Worrall struggles to deal with a ball into the box, but Fernandes cannot take advantage with his low cross cleared before Weghorst can get on the end of it.

1' The visitors kick us off and we are underway at the City Ground.

The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch ahead of this first leg.

Ten Hag goes with three alterations from Sunday's loss at Arsenal, with two of those coming in the back four. Malacia is in for Luke Shaw at left-back, while Lindelof will play alongside Martinez at the heart of United's defence with Varane on the bench. Casemiro, who missed the defeat at the Emirates Stadium because of suspension, replaces McTominay in midfield.

Steve Cooper makes four changes from Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Bournemouth, as Danilo and Scarpa come in for Mangala and Ryan Yates, the latter of whom misses out altogether with illness. Boly drops to the bench with McKenna starting in his place, while Surridge will partner Johnson up top with Chris Wood cup-tied.

SUBS: Tom Heaton, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Raphael Varane, Fred, Scott McTominay, Brandon Williams, Anthony Elanga.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Wout Weghorst.

SUBS: Steve Cook, Jack Colback, Lewis O'Brien, Willy Boly, Jesse Lingard, Orel Mangala, Jordan Smith, Neco Williams, Emmanuel Dennis.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-3-1-2): Wayne Hennessey; Serge Aurier, Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna, Renan Lodi; Danilo, Remo Freuler, Morgan Gibbs-White; Gustavo Scarpa; Sam Surridge, Brennan Johnson.

The visitors meanwhile are looking to end a drought of their own, having last lifted silverware under Jose Mourinho in the 2016-17 season. After a tricky start to life as United manager, Erik ten Hag has guided the Red Devils to fourth in the Premier League, while they are the only English team left fighting on four fronts. They got to this stage by seeing off Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals, and will be hoping to take a decent scoreline back to Old Trafford for the second leg.

The hosts have won this competition four times, though their last success came in the 1989-90 season. That was Forest's last major trophy, but victories over the likes of Tottenham and Wolves in this campaign's edition have given fans hope they can get their name etched on the cup again.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the EFL Cup semi-final first leg between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest v Manchester United Live Commentary, 26/01/2023

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