Ruben Amorim conceded "a lack of quality" cost Manchester United in their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Anthony Elanga came back to haunt his former club by scoring a superb individual goal after just five minutes, which was enough for the hosts to claim all three points at the City Ground.

United could not find an equaliser despite registering 24 shots on goal – their joint-most on record (from 2003-04) in a Premier League away game without scoring.

The visitors' best opportunities saw Diogo Dalot head against the crossbar in the first half, while Murillo's magnificent goal-line clearance thwarted Harry Maguire deep into stoppage time.

Amorim felt United deserved not to leave the East Midlands empty-handed, but acknowledged his side must improve in the final third.

"We controlled the game, but we already knew this team could score goals out of nothing," he told TNT Sports. "When they scored, we changed the game a little bit from what they wanted.

"We know the characters of the team, and one goal can put them in one situation they love. We have to score two goals to win a match and that is frustrating as it was the beginning of the game.

"We helped them to win three points. We tried with good opportunities, but in the last third, the last pass, the last assist wasn't there. Then, if we don't have that, we cannot score goals.

"This season is like that. We had a lot of shots on goal, we pushed the opponent to the last third, but in the last third, we had a lack of quality.

"We need to win games, and we deserved more in this game. That is clear, but it is our fault, and we need to be better in the last third.

"We should have won this game, not even drawn. But, in the end, we have lost three points."

The defeat left United 13th as their four-game unbeaten streak in the league came to an end on Tuesday.

A slow start was once again their undoing; only Leicester City (25) have conceded the opening goal in more matches among all Premier League sides than United's 23 in all competitions this season.

Forest's win also marked United's 13th defeat of the season in the Premier League, their second-most in a campaign in the competition, just one short of their unwanted record of 14 in 2023-24.

Amorim acknowledged his side must pick themselves back up before Sunday's crucial derby at home to fierce rivals Manchester City.

"If you look at the game we are improving the way we play football, we are creating chances and dominating the games more," Amorim added to BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We know that this season is going to be like that, win momentum, lose momentum. We continue going into the next match."