Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Predictions

• Both teams have not scored in Forest’s last three home league games
• Both teams have not scored in three of Man Utd’s last four away league contests
• Manchester United have won to nil on three of their last four visits to the City Ground

Forest may struggle to justify favouritism without frontmen

Nottingham Forest go into a match against Manchester United as the favourites for the first time in a generation, but Tuesday’s clash at the City Ground could fall the way of the visitors if they get the first goal.

Forest are unbeaten in their last eight home league contests with six wins and two draws, a sequence that has helped them keep a firm grip on a top-three position. But they go into this game off the back of a draining 120 minutes against Brighton in the FA Cup and with injury doubts surrounding their two leading players.

Top scorer Chris Wood missed Saturday’s cup quarter-final with an injury he picked up while on international duty and Nuno Espirito Santo refused to say if he would be ready to return against the Red Devils. An additional concern for the coach will be the fitness of Morgan Gibbs-White, who had to come off before penalties after sustaining a knock against the Seagulls.

United on the mend

The team news from Old Trafford is contrastingly optimistic with all of Ruben Amorim’s players returning unscathed from international duty to be greeted by five returning stars back in training after injury.

Patrick Dorgu, the Danish wing-back who has been providing crucial balance on the left-hand side, is available again after suspension while Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro look set to bolster the Red Devils’ defensive corps.

United’s main problem remains in attack where neither Rasmus Hojlind or Joshua Zirkzee have been prolific, but Bruno Fernandes continues to provide a spark despite being withdrawn to a central midfield role of late. Fernandes remains United’s most likely scorer and Amorim’s best hope of taking all three points back from Nottingham will be for his side to keep it tight at the back.

Both teams capable of clean sheets

Forest have proven very adept at closing out games once they get their noses in front, which they have done in nine of their last 11 home games, but they have lost each of their last three league games when going behind.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are set up to counter attack through their excellent wide men Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, but they can be nullified when teams are able to sit deep and force them to make the play. United’s wing-backs will be the key to executing the gameplan in Nottingham with the central areas likely to be congested.

A game of few goals or goalscoring opportunities may be the byproduct of a tactical battle between the two Portuguese coaches with one or both teams capable of keeping the other at bay for 90 minutes. Forest have conceded only five times in their last 10 home games in all competitions while the Red Devils have managed two shutouts in their last four away league trips.