Manchester United don bounce back from their bad form, and dem go dey find how to climb enter top four again when dem visit City Ground to face Sean Dyche Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils dey come with small vex because Forest beat dem both home and away last season, including 1-0 win for City Ground in April.
Match Preview
After 39 days of pain under Ange Postecoglou, Nottingham Forest finally get small joy under new coach Sean Dyche when dem beat Porto 2-0 for Europa League. But for Premier League, e no start well for Dyche as Bournemouth use 2-0 win humble Forest for Vitality Stadium last weekend.
That loss still keep Forest for relegation zone, three points behind Fulham wey dey 17th. Dyche side don now lose six of their last seven Premier League games (draw one), including four straight matches without scoring any goal.
If dem lose again this weekend, e go be the first time since October 2022 wey dem go lose five league matches back-to-back. The last time dem lose five straight without scoring na for January 2004.
Sean Dyche team no too sabi find net – e never change since him Everton days. For him last 14 Premier League games, him side no score for 10 of dem (nine at Everton, one at Forest). In fact, Dyche get the lowest goals-per-game ratio (0.97) among managers wey don coach at least 150 Premier League games.
But one thing still dey boost Forest morale – dem don beat Manchester United three times in a row for Premier League, scoring six goals total. The last time dem win United four times straight for league na between February 1909 and September 1910. So history dey give small confidence.
Meanwhile, since matchday three (end of August), only Arsenal (16 points) don collect more points than Manchester United (15 points – five wins, two losses). United even be the highest scoring team for Premier League during that period (14 goals).
After that embarrassing 3-1 loss to Brentford at the end of September, many bin think Ruben Amorim go lose him job. But since then, him team don respond like wounded lions.
Dem don now win three straight matches – something wey never happen since February 2024. After wins against Sunderland and Liverpool, United continue their run with a 4-2 win over Brighton. Matheus Cunha finally score him first goal for the club, and Bryan Mbeumo score brace wey lift Old Trafford spirit.
United dey sit sixth for table now, and dem be one of only three teams wey win all their matches for October (along with Arsenal and Aston Villa). If results favor dem, another win go fit push dem reach second place for Premier League table.
But away form still be wahala for United. Out of 12 points wey dem fit collect for away matches this season, dem only get four — though three come from the shock 3-0 win at Liverpool. Dem don also lose their last two league games for City Ground, and if Forest win again, e go be three straight home wins over United — something wey last happen between 1965 and 1967.
Form Guide
Nottingham Forest Premier League form: L D L L W L
Nottingham Forest (all competitions): L L L L W L
Manchester United Premier League form: L W L W W W
Team News
Forest still dey without their top scorer from last season, Chris Wood (knee), plus new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin). Ola Aina (hamstring), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified) and Angus Gunn (knee) still dey treatment table too. Summer signing James McAtee no play against Bournemouth – na tactical decision, not injury. We go see whether Dyche go include am this weekend.
Without Wood, Igor Jesus go likely continue for attack. Captain Ryan Yates fit still start from bench again, as Dyche dey prefer Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz for midfield.
For Manchester United, coach Amorim dey hope say Harry Maguire go fit return after missing the Brighton win with small knock. Lisandro Martinez don resume training but e no ready to play yet. If Maguire fit start, Leny Yoro go likely drop out from the back three. Luke Shaw and De Ligt go complete the defense, while Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot go handle the wings.
Matheus Cunha dey hot right now — he don involve for seven goals (three goals, four assists) in his last four matches against teams wey dey relegation zone. He go likely start again alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko for attack.
Nottingham Forest Possible Lineup:
Sels; Savona, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
Manchester United Possible Lineup:
Lammens; De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko
Prediction
Forest go enter this match with desperation to turn their season around under Sean Dyche. Dem go hope say their new defensive discipline fit hold United from scoring plenty. But the Red Devils now don find rhythm again, and the way Mbeumo and Cunha dey play e go hard for Forest defense.
Even though Forest recent record against United dey sweet, this version of United no be the same team wey dem beat last season. Amorim boys dey confident, dey consistent, and dem get sharper attack now. So we dey back United to continue their fine form and collect narrow win for City Ground.
We Say: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United
Live Update Notice
This match preview go dey update steady with new information — lineup changes, injury gist, and last-minute squad news go show here as e happen. Na LIVE page, so make you dey check back for all the latest updates before kick-off and during matchday.
