Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd predictions: Tricky Trees can hold their own
- Manchester United have won just one of their last five games
- Both teams have scored in three of Nottingham Forest's last four games
- Recommended bet: Nottingham Forest draw no bet
Manchester United snapped their winless streak in dramatic fashion on Boxing Day, recovering from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils deserve credit for the way they fought back in that game and Rasmus Hojlund grabbed his first ever Premier League goal, but there is still plenty of work to be done for Erik ten Hag's men, who are five points off the top five.
As for Nottingham Forest, their first two matches under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo have been entertaining, having lost the first 3-2 to Bournemouth before recording a surprise 3-1 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Team news
Forest will again be without Taiwo Awoniyi, Felipe and Serge Aurier through injury, while an accumulation of yellow cards means Ibrahim Sangare is suspended. Willy Boly, meanwhile, is back from a ban.
Injuries have piled up for United, who will be missing Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo and Victor Lindelof.
Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Sofyan Amrabat are doubts.
The stats
Manchester United have failed to win five of their nine away games in the Premier League this season and they have picked up just one win in their last five fixtures in all competitions.
Forest have lost their last four home league games, but were unbeaten in eight at the City Ground beforehand.
Striker Chris Wood has bagged four goals in his last two matches for the Tricky Trees.
Prediction
They did not make it easy, but Manchester United got back on track with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Ten Hag's side showed character to recover from 2-0 down in that contest, but it is hard to ignore the fact they had gone four matches without a win beforehand, drawing blanks in all of those games.
The problems run deeper than the manager and as it stands United face an uphill battle to simply make the European places in the Premier League.
Their tally of eight defeats is worse than Brighton and Bournemouth and the same as Newcastle, Chelsea and Wolves and they should be opposed at the City Ground.
Forest have not had the easiest time of it either in the last month or so but since appointing Santo as head coach, they have looked sharper.
The 3-2 loss to Bournemouth was unfortunate - they had Willy Boly sent off after only 23 minutes and conceded in the 94th minute of that match.
But last time out, they looked brilliant, easing to a 3-1 win away to Newcastle thanks to Chris Wood's hat-trick.
That suggested the loss of Awoniyi to injury is not as big a blow as first thought and they are worth chancing at home to the inconsistent Red Devils.
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