Paul Robinson Previews Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Saturday’s 17:30 kick off at the City Ground
They've got a lot of pain to go through before things get right at Manchester United. They've got a lot more hurt to go through. Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be through the door and football decisions may be taken away from the Glazers but the managerial situation, the situation on the pitch, the temporary CEO, the temporary director of football, whatever it is, they've got a lot more hurt to go through.
This trip to Forest is a difficult one for them. Nuno going in there turned it round in the short term but in the long term, it’s yet to be seen. He went against his normal pragmatism at Newcastle, played with five attacking players and they looked good going forward. The City Ground will certainly be rocking for United. Against Villa, well there’s no better way to win than a comeback win but there’s a pattern. They were poor against Luton, they won against Everton. They lost against Newcastle, they won against Chelsea, lost against Bournemouth, draw against Liverpool, lost against West Ham. The pattern there is the manager seems to get a reaction and a performance after a poor result. They've had a decent result and a good performance. So, from a pattern point of view they’re due a defeat!
The new manager bounce was there for Forest at Newcastle. I like the both teams to score in this one because neither seem capable of defending that well at the moment. Forest have lost 4 consecutive home games. They've conceded 2 or more in 10 games this season and they've lost 10 of 19.
United have had five clean sheets in the last 10 away. Can they repeat that against a Forest side who will be looking to press? I don't think they can. I think the way into this one is both teams to score and then pick your preference as a winner because I think it'll be tight. And I think the odds suggest that as well. I just think Forest coming off the back of a real morale boosting win at Newcastle, scoring those goals edges me towards them.
Forest and both teams to score is 24/5 and Paul Robinson’s selection in that one on Saturday.
Both score no draw may be a safer 11/8.