Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag continues to fight for his job as the Red Devils travel to meet fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.
United seemed to finally be hitting a good run of form, but that was ruined as Fulham came to Old Trafford and secured a 2-1 victory which saw the hosts fall back into all their bad habits of old. The Red Devils were agonizingly slow in possession and coughed up a number of good chances to the opponents, throwing away a late equalizer to a stoppage-time winner.
The domestic cup competitions were good to Manchester United last season, as they won the EFL Cup and reached the final of the FA Cup, but matching those results this year has been tougher. They were bounced from the League Cup in the fourth round by Newcastle, and were given a scare by lower-league side Newport County in the previous FA Cup round before eventually winning 4-2.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, remain in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle and while knockout success can provide a valuable confidence boost, it can also clog the schedule with matches of lesser importance.
USA: Click here to see the latest odds for Man United vs Nottingham Forest and bet FA Cup matches
Man United vs Nottingham Forest prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Manchester United (+120)
- Score prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-3 Man United
While Manchester United haven't managed to make anything seem easy in the last few months, Nottingham Forest haven't either. Forest barely squeaked by Bristol City last time out,
| DraftKings (USA) |
|
| Nott'm Forest win | +215 |
| Draw | +265 |
| Man United win | +120 |
| Both teams to score Y/N |
-200 / +150 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals |
-165 / +120 |
| Man United advance |
-160 |
| Nott'm Forest advance |
+115 |
Man United vs Nottingham Forest match facts
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024
- Kickoff time: 7:45 p.m. local (2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT)
- Location: The City Ground (Nottinghamshire, England)
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh, VAR: Michael Salisbury
- Last meeting: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Man United (Dec. 30, 2023 | Premier League)
Man United vs Nottingham Forest best bet
- Pick: Over 3.0 total goals
- Odds: +115 (DraftKings)
Both these teams have been defensively porous and concede possession in large chunks, indicating that there could be chances on both ends. Nottingham Forest have conceded nine goals in their last five matches, including three to a hobbled Newcastle earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the issues for Andre Onana have continued to plague the Man United goalkeeper, and even in their recent five-match winning streak prior to the Fulham loss, they managed to concede seven goals in that span, including two to Newport County and three to Wolves, winning 4-2 and 4-3 in those matches. This could get messy.
Man United vs Nottingham Forest prop bet
- Pick: Anthony Elanga to score or assist a goal
- Odds: +220 (FanDuel)
Former Manchester United youth product Anthony Elanga will have a chance at revenge in this match, looking to knock his old club out of the FA Cup amidst a strong run of form for the 21-year-old. Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has leaned on the Swiss international more of late, and to great effect, with a goal and assist in his last three.
Last time these two teams met, Elanga was the best player on the pitch, assisting the 82nd minute winner by Morgan Gibbs-White as one of his three chances created, troubling Diogo Dalot (who, by the way, was booked in that game and is +360 to see a yellow card here) throughout.
Man United vs Nottingham Forest live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | Sportsnet One | Sportsnet Now |
| UK | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC website |
The entirety of the 2023/24 FA Cup will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States, including this fifth round matchups.
The broadcast rights in Canada are owned by Sportsnet, while this match will be televised on BBC One in the UK.
