GW10: Man United 2–2 Forest (A): Control without Threat

Manchester United drew 2–2 at Forest in a match that showed the gap between possession and penetration.

We had 59% possession and 18 shots. Only 17 touches in their box.

Forest had less of the ball but created clearer danger: 1.93 xG, 24 box touches, 11 shots in our area. They even out-passed us in the final third (87–85). When they had it, they used it better.

We won the physical battle (57% of duels, 63% of headers) and Amad rescued a point late, but too many attacks stopped one pass short.

In the full report below, we dive into where attacks died, how Forest's directness exposed our hesitation, the stand-out performers, and why transfer target Elliot Anderson is the exact player United are missing.

A game that fit a recent pattern, plenty of ball, not enough danger.

Forest had fewer shots but better positions. We had the ball, they had the danger. That’s the story in one line.

5 stats that explain our performance:

63 entries, 17 box touches — we kept getting close, just never got in.

18 shots, 1.12 xG — lots of attempts, not much danger.

Forest had less possession but sharper execution — 87 final-third passes to our 85.

Only one route worked — the right side through Amad and Mbeumo produced 5 of our 7 shots on target. Everything else got stuck.

Won the physical battle, still had to defend — 57% of duels, 63% of aerials (season-best). But Forest's 25 crosses meant we spent more time defending than 59% possession should require.

Why it still wasn't enough: We won the physical battles and the first contact. But we didn't win the box. Forest used fewer touches to create better chances.

_{Player ratings from WhoScored.}

Amad Diallo (7.83):
81′ equaliser. 4 shots (3 on target), 1 key pass. Direct and brave 1v1. Almost scored a winner late on. Turned the right side into our most dangerous outlet and finally converted territory into a goal.

Casemiro (8.34):
1 goal, 3 key passes, 6 aerials won, 83 touches (82.5% pass). Low-volume but decisive in the box, plus authority under Forest’s crossing barrage; his experience steadied a scrappy game.

Matheus Cunha (7.61):
2 shots (1 on target), 4 key passes, 70 touches (91.7% pass). Turned ball wins into instant forward threat instead of resets; his vertical passing opened the lane Amad kept attacking.

Bruno Fernandes (7.48):
4 key passes, 91 touches (88% pass), 2 shots. First touch after recoveries and the bridge from “we won it back” to “we’re in their half,” but ran out of ways to unlock the deep block.

Matthijs de Ligt (7.23):
10 aerials won, 58 touches (85.1% pass). Bossed the air against 25 crosses; repeated first-ball wins were a big reason Forest’s volume didn’t become a defeat.

Forest's Elliot Anderson looked like the exact type of midfield connector United are missing. 14 recoveries, constantly available between the lines, helped turn 57 attacking entries into 24 box touches.

That's what a good connector does, he kept moves alive in tight spaces. It’s the profile we were missing while we turned 85 final-third passes into only 17 touches in their box. Not a star signing, but the kind of player who raises the floor and makes attacks stick. He definitely passed the eye test.

We didn’t earn this point through slick chance creation — Forest won that battle. We earned it by refusing to lose the physical side (57% of duels, 63% of headers), by de Ligt repeatedly winning the first ball against 25 crosses, and by Amad being the one player willing to turn territory into actual danger.

Casemiro’s first-half goal and Amad’s late equaliser both came from that same mix: win the duel, keep the attack alive, and rely on individual quality to bail out a performance where our structure got us close but never through.

We're comfortable reaching the final third. We're not ruthless inside it, not enough back-post runs, not enough willingness to be direct into dangerous areas.

This is the third time this season we've had 55%+ possession and failed to win. Forest showed the contrast: 24 box touches from 57 entries, more direct, more vertical, more willing to risk the ball in tight spaces. We had 63 entries and only 17 touches.

Until United finds that ruthlessness in the final 18 yards, we'll keep needing rescues to save points we should have put away earlier.

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