Casemiro’s late nod topples Forest as Manchester United roll on in FA Cup

Legend has it Mark Robins was the man to save Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United managerial career with an FA Cup winner against Nottingham Forest in 1990. That year United went on to win the trophy at Wembley and the pressure was lifted from their manager. Erik ten Hag will be hoping Casemiro’s late winner at the City Ground might have the same galvanising effect on his tenure.

The Brazilian’s header was the 36th attempt on goal on a night devoid of quality but the result is all that matters for Ten Hag. The Dutchman will be holding on to hope United can reach Wembley in this competition as he looks to prove himself to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new minority shareholder.

Antony, with a permanent point to prove, should have opened the scoring for United when a well-worked corner reached him waiting in the perfect position 14 yards out, but the Brazilian could not find the desired control, hitting his shot against the top of the bar. He is at risk of becoming an afterthought thanks to his lack of end product, having neither scored nor assisted in 20 league appearances this season.

Diogo Dalot, who is becoming one of the best crossers in the country, provided an overlap to Antony, before lifting the ball on to Scott McTominay’s head six yards out, but the Scot headed the ball straight at Matt Turner. Marcus Rashford blazed over another fine chance soon after. Within 17 minutes, United should have scored three. Profligacy is a risk.

United’s injury problems forced Ten Hag’s hand, leading to the central midfielder Sofyan Amrabat playing at left-back in his first start for the club since mid-December. The Moroccan blindly passed the ball backwards to Raphaël Varane but the centre-back was unable to control, allowing Taiwo Awoniyi to intercept and dart for goal, forcing André Onana into a smart save to his right.

Dalot and McTominay combined once again, this time forcing Turner into a reflex save. The full-back took a circuitous route inside the Forest box to find an angle for another pinpoint cross to the Scot at the front post, from where McTominay flicked goalwards only to see the Forest goalkeeper smartly tip behind.

It required 21 shots on Saturday for United to score against Fulham and they were working hard to match that number against Forest. Without Rasmus Højlund, who scored seven in six Premier League games prior to injury, United have been wasteful, lacking the required clinical edge.

Energy was not an issue at the City Ground but the game was chronically lacking in any real quality in the final third. Passes rarely found their target, moments of intended skill often ended with an attacker losing possession and the finishing on both sides was wayward.

Awoniyi finally found his range in the opening exchanges of the second half. He received a pass on the edge of the box from Anthony Elanga, got the ball out of his feet and swiped a low shot from a central position but Onana was equal to the power, repelling the ball to his left.

Where Forest were often ineffectual in the first half, they found a presence after the break. Divock Origi was the next to sting Onana’s hands, showing quick feet to defeat a couple of defenders in white before taking aim, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper. It was a sign of intent, at least, one United needed to heed.

Mark Clattenburg, Forest’s refereeing consultant, was watching from the stands and would have been interested to see Chris Kavanagh’s decision when Rashford went down under pressure from Murillo and Felipe in the box. There was a case to answer, but a penalty was never going to be awarded after an on-pitch head shake.

United were struggling to even create opportunities but Bruno Fernandes felt he was in with a chance of scoring when he sidefooted Alejandro Garnacho’s pullback towards goal, only to see his shot deflect wide off McTominay.

The match looked destined for extra time until Fernandes whipped in a free kick from the left. The ball bounced a number of times while Casemiro lost his marker to nod home through Turner’s legs.

It was an underwhelming way to settle the tie but it was an underwhelming tie to settle. A long VAR check followed but after a lengthy interlude everything was deemed legal and United were in the final eight.