After giving Arsenal a good run for their money and leaving it late to see off newly-promoted Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest were in dreamland at the Theatre of Dreams last weekend, storming into a two-goal lead against Manchester United thanks to Taiwo Awoniyi’s finish and Willy Boly’s header.
Steve Cooper’s men became the first team to ever take a 2-0 lead against Man United within the opening four minutes of a Premier League game, but their master plan was soon foiled by the resurgent Red Devils, who drew themselves level through Christian Eriksen and Casemiro before Joe Worrall was sent for an early bat
The 10 men of Forest did all they could to keep Man United at bay, but after Danilo was penalised for felling Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes completed a sensational Red Devils comeback, before Cooper’s side also succumbed to a late Zeki Amdouni winner in the EFL Cup versus Burnley.
At face value, three defeats from their opening four games of the new season is an unsightly record indeed, but the Tricky Trees – who occupy 14th place in the table – could leave the Emirates and Old Trafford patting themselves on the back.
Forest also held Chelsea to a pair of stalemates in the 2022-23 Premier League season – coming away from Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw to their name – but their abysmal road record now reads no wins from their last 12 top-flight games on rival turf, despite scoring in each of their last six such matches.
Pochettino was keen to focus on the positives from his side’s unconvincing EFL Cup win, one of which was having no fresh injury concerns to add to his list of 10 absentees, having played down an apparent problem for Levi Colwill.