Forest chops United down as Amorim loses again
Manchester United suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League after a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Chris Wood's 10th league goal of the season in the 54th minute proved to be the winner as Forest climbed to fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, which drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace.
Nikola Milenkovic put the visitors ahead with only 91 seconds on the clock as he headed in a corner from Elliot Anderson, but Rasmus Hojlund levelled the score for United 16 minutes later, following up after Alejandro Garnacho's initial effort was saved by Matz Sels.
Jota Silva and Bruno Fernandes were denied by the woodwork during the first half before Morgan Gibbs-White made it 2-1 to Forest just two minutes after the restart.
Wood then planted a looping header past Andre Onana to double Forest's lead before United captain Fernandes then pulled one back just past the hour mark.
Ruben Amorim's side pushed for an equaliser, but Forest kept it at bay to collect all three points.
Forest now has 25 points from 15 matches, while United is in 13th place with 19 points.
Amorim suffered two straight defeats for only the second time in his career, with the first coming during his stint with former club Sporting in August 2022.
Manchester United boss Amorim defended his decision to take off captain Fernandes.
Fernandes was one of the better players for United on the pitch and scored its second goal in the 61st minute to set up a tense finish to the game.
But the Portugal international was substituted in the 75th minute, with Mason Mount replacing him as United failed to find inroads into the Forest defence.
"Bruno was too tired and I wanted Mount to play that position of second midfielder who opens a bit on the left," Amorim said after the game.
"Joshua [Zirkzee] plays with Rasmus [Hojlund] to have combinations, [Leny] Yoro goes off because we can't give him too many minutes.
"We put Harry Maguire on because of set-pieces, to control more who was winning all the first balls, the only way to attack Nottingham was transitions, to try and win first and second balls. When Harry was on the pitch, he won all the first balls."
United was also beaten 2-0 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in midweek.
"It's not a surprise because we come in the middle of a lot of games," Amorim said.
"It's really disappointing for the fans, after so many times with disappointment, but we are here to do a job and will continue doing the same things to improve the team."
