Date: 30 December 2023
Kick-Off: 15:00 UK, 16:00 CET
Venue: The City Ground
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd: Top free betting tips
Nottingham Forest welcome Man Utd to the City Ground on Saturday evening in a match that both teams will be looking forward to after impressive performances last time out. Forest recorded their second away win of the season courtesy of a Chris Wood hat-trick at St James' Park while Man Utd came from 2-0 down to defeat Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Our Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd prediction is for an end-to-end match between two teams who love to play in transition that will ultimately end all square.
Match result prediction: Draw
Nottingham Forest are two games into life under Nuno Espirito Santo and they are already looking like a team in his image. Against Newcastle, they were tough to break down and devastating on the counter-attack and a repeat performance here could spell trouble for the Red Devils. United, however, looked excellent in the second half against Aston Villa and should feel more confident ahead of their trip to Nottingham.
Team to score first: Nottingham Forest
This selection is more down to Man Utd's appetite for conceding first in matches more than anything. They have made a habit of starting matches slowly all season and they have conceded the first goal in five of their last seven matches in all competitions and they have failed to score at all in their last three away matches. Forest have scored first in one of Nuno's first two matches in charge and they had plenty of chances top open the scoring against Newcastle, too.
Correct score prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Man Utd
Both teams are at their best in transition so this game could go one of two ways. Either the two managers set up defensively to limit the number of counter-attacks that are possible or they accept that attack is perhaps the form of defence and prepare for an open and end-to-end match. Given Nuno needs to get the Forest fans on his side, we are predicting that the latter approach is taken so strap yourselves in for a Christmas cracker.
Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd team news
Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Man Utd
Nuno Espirito Santo would have loved to have gone with the same eleven that dismantled Newcastle here but that won't be possible due to Ibrahim Sangare picking up his fifth booking of the season. Either Orel Mangala or Ryan Yates will come into midfield as his replacement while Willy Boly is available again after serving his suspension should Santo want to bring him back in immediately.
Turner – Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo – Mangala, Danilo – Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi – Wood
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest
Man Utd still have a stacked injury list for the trip to Nottingham with the likes of Casemiro, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire all still out. On the tactical front, the Scott McTominay number ten experiment has rightfully come to an end which should mean Ten Hag lines up with the same trio of Mainoo, Eriksen and Fernandes that he used against Aston Villa.
Onana – Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot – Mainoo, Eriksen, Fernandes – Rashford, Hojlund, Garnacho
Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd: What the fans think
Forest fans calling for a big atmosphere
We need to make the City Ground a fortress bigger than its ever looked or sounded next match against Man UTD! #nffc
— Trent Ender (@RichyRi28081938) December 26, 2023
United fans hope that a win can restart their season
If United beat Forest on Saturday. We are going to be back into the top 4 race
— ?????? (@UtdEra_) December 28, 2023
How far will Man Utd fans travel to The City Ground?
Man Utd fans will face a 90ish mile trip to the City Ground from Manchester on Saturday evening. The journey will take around two hours and there are two possible routes if going via coach or car – either down the A50 or the M1. If going by train, the travelling Reds will be able to take a direct train from Manchester Piccadilly to Nottingham Railways station and then take a 20-minute walk to the stadium.
Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd: Tickets
Nottingham Forest have announced that they have sold all tickets for the home match against Man Utd on December 30th. The club have opened their ticket exchange on the official website which will allow Forest members to purchase tickets from other members who can no longer attend the match. Man Utd were given an allocation of 2,893 tickets for the match at The City Ground and all of these were sold to eligible season ticket holders via a ballot.