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A pre-match palate-whetter, courtesy of friend of the site Steve Pye. “I wondered if you might be interested in a blog of mine looking back at Nottingham Forest dramatically beating Man Utd in December 1984?” Sure thing! “For the second time in two weeks, Ron Atkinson’s team threw away a two-goal lead on the road, with a couple of their players coming to blows in the dressing room after the match.”
The return of the Premier League, then. It’s been a while, what with World Cup qualifiers, the Nations League, FA Cup quarters, all that. So here’s a reminder of how the division looks as we head into this full round of midweek fixtures. Forest are looking to consolidate third spot, as they chase a Champions League spot and a chance to bid for European Cup number three. United’s most realistic hope of continental competition next season is to win this year’s Europa League, though barreling up the standings to finish in the qualifying positions isn’t mathematically out of the question. First things first, getting back in the top half, of which they’re currently seven points adrift.
Forest make one change to their starting XI following their FA Cup quarter-final win at Brighton last weekend. Anthony Elanga, formerly of United, comes in for Nicolás Domínguez, who drops to the bench. Leading scorer Chris Wood is still sidelined with a hip problem, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is also missing this evening.
United make four changes after their 3-0 Premier League win at Leicester 16 days ago. Leny Yoro, Casemiro, Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee are in; Victor Lindelöf, Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Højlund drop to the bench, while the injured Ayden Heaven misses out altogether.
The teams
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Yates, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Awoniyi.
Subs: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Toffolo, Dominguez, Alex, Jota Silva, Sosa, Boly.
Manchester United: Onana, Yoro, de Ligt, Mazraoui, Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Maguire, Mount, Hojlund, Eriksen, Amass, Kone, Collyer.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Preamble
Forest won 3-2 at Old Trafford in December. They won this fixture last season. And they’re high on life after reaching their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991, with Champions League football next year a very real possibility. On the other hand. United won here in the Cup last February. They’re seven unbeaten. And they’re still on to win something in Europe, which would be some result at the end of a difficult season. Everybody relatively happy and confident, then, so good luck calling this. Kick off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
