Alan Shearer hailed Nottingham Forest’s resilience and quality as they bounced back from recent setbacks to secure a deserved 3-2 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Forest, fresh off a midweek defeat to Manchester City, produced a spirited display to claim their first win at Old Trafford in nearly three decades.
Goals from Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Chris Wood ensured Forest shrugged off recent disappointments against Arsenal and Newcastle.
Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, praised their collective effort and ability to rise to the occasion.
Forest started the game on the front foot, with Milenkovic heading them into the lead inside two minutes.
Although Rasmus Hojlund equalised for United, Forest quickly reasserted themselves, restoring and extending their advantage early in the second half.
Bruno Fernandes’ late strike offered United hope, but Forest held firm to seal the points. Shearer was impressed with their determination and ability to execute at crucial moments.
“They were brilliant,” Shearer said.
“It was a really good recovery from what happened to them in midweek. They had three shots on target and they had three goals, but everything about them was outstanding. They were organised, their ability, their togetherness when they had to stick together – they were just really impressive.
“The good thing is that they’ve probably seen how weak Man United are at set pieces – they conceded two in the week – you get one after two minutes and this is what happens. Milenkovic wants it more than Martinez and he bullies them.
“Then there was the press, the way they commit men forward. Yes, the keeper [Onana] should save [Gibbs-White’s goal], but the impressive thing was how many men they had forward.
“The performance was typified when they won the ball on the edge of their own box, they have men in behind the ball to defend and work, but the three I have highlighted – Wood, Jota Silva, and Gibbs-White – within seconds are in the other box and get the goal.
“The way they keep the pressure on, they win the ball back, they keep it alive, and when you have someone in form, you get the ball in the box.
“Then, they come under the cosh because they concede a goal, they have to defend, put bodies on the line, they had to stick together. It’s why Forest are where they are in the league. They’re playing well, full of confidence, and they have a striker in the form of his life in Chris Wood.”
