FA Cup: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Manchester United will aim to make it to the record 48th quarter-final of the competition

Nottingham Forest faced a 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa, recovering from a 3-0 halftime deficit to narrow the margin. In eight of their last 11 encounters, Forest witnessed over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring. Their offensive approach, especially at home, often leaves their defence vulnerable.

Manchester United were disappointed at Old Trafford, suffering a 1-2 loss to Fulham after a promising streak of five wins and seven unbeaten matches. Despite a comeback and late initiative, they conceded a stoppage-time goal, leaving fans disheartened. Attention is now on Erik Ten Hag for solutions after failing to secure a win against Fulham.

Kick-Off:

Thursday; 29 January 2024, 07:45 PM GMT (01:15 AM IST)

Location: City Ground

Form

Nottingham Forest (all competitions): D-W-L-W-L

Manchester United (all competitions): W-W-W-W-L

Players to watch

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s quality lies in his exceptional dribbling, yet his strengths also extend to his decision-making and the precise timing of his passes. Frequently, he manoeuvres the ball away from defenders before delivering a pass or cross, effectively combining two of his key attributes. Hudson-Odoi also possesses explosive speed even from a stationary position. With remarkable balance, he can swiftly change direction, making him highly effective in one-on-one scenarios. He has 5 goal contributions for the club this season.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Bruno Fernandes is renowned for his skill in controlling the pace of the game, he consistently plays a pivotal role in generating scoring opportunities while showcasing a discerning eye for goal-scoring himself. His effectiveness extends to set-piece delivery and executing precise long-range shots, further solidifying his status as a standout player on the field. His strategic influence on the game and his ability to contribute both as a creator and goal-scorer have marked him as a key asset in any match.

Match facts:

• The home team are aiming to reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup for the second time in the last three seasons.
• Manchester United have already lost at the City Ground this season.
• Nottingham Forest have progressed from four of their previous five FA Cup ties against the Red Devils.

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Injury and Team News

The hosts receive a significant lift as Ola Aina, Willy Boly, and Ibrahim Sangare make their return, having had a rest following their participation in AFCON. Sangare, in particular, might need to reclaim his spot in the starting XI, given the impressive performances of Danilo and Nico Dominguez in his absence.

Manchester United, on the other hand, faces new injury worries, Luke Shaw is ruled out for the season, and Hojlund will miss 2-3 weeks due to injury. Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka remain sidelined.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 111

Nottingham Forest: 34

Manchester United: 53

Draws: 24

Predicted lineup

Nottingham Forest predicted lineup

Turner; Montiel, Omobamidele, Murillo, Tavares; Mangala, Danilo; Dominguez, Yates, Odoi; Awoniyi

Manchester United predicted lineup

Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Antony; Rashford

Match prediction for Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Forest prioritizes an attacking style of play at any expense, whereas United tends to score and concede goals consistently. Despite the potential surprise from their recent loss to Fulham, United remains a formidable and dangerous opponent. Considering the offensive orientation of Forest and the goal-scoring and conceding dynamics of United, goals will surely come in this match.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United

Telecast

India: Sony LIV

UK: BBC

USA: ESPN+

Nigeria: Supersport

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