‘One step forward and two steps back’ - Christian Eriksen bemoans another Man Utd defeat and highlights his side’s wastefulness in front of goal against Nottingham Forest

After such a positive result midweek against Aston Villa, United returned to what has become a norm of insipid performances. The Red Devils were second best against Forest and were fortunate to be gifted a goal by Forest's Matt Turner. But Morgan Gibbs-White scored the vital strike, dispatching an effort from the edge of the box to give Forest the win and end United's year in calamity.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Eriksen said: "This season in general has been one step forward and two steps back and it felt like that today. Our aim was to get three points so it's definitely disappointing to come away with zero. We had our chances. They had a lot less but scored them. At the moment we don't. We need a few chances to score goals and it makes things more difficult."

The result leaves United reeling and could leave them in 9th on New Years Day, if Newcastle and Brighton win their games in hand. United are nine points off the top four having played a game more than Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. The side's nine league defeats this season also represents their worst since 1989-90.

United will be looking to put a torrid 2023 behind them as they begin their quest for FA Cup silverware. Erik ten Hag's side travel to Wigan next weekend.