Erik ten Hag: One thing is clear - we are not consistent

Under-fire Erik ten Hag says misfiring Manchester United have to "step up" and find a modicum of consistency after Nottingham Forest inflicted their 14th defeat of a chastening season.

A year that began with positivity and silverware ended with the Red Devils under intense scrutiny given they are already out of Europe, the Carabao Cup and Premier League title race.

United have been infuriatingly inconsistent throughout the campaign, epitomised by the thrilling 3-2 St Stephen's Day turnaround against Aston Villa being followed up Saturday's limp 2-1 loss at Forest.

"One thing is clear we are not consistent," boss Ten Hag said. "We can beat the best teams in the league, but we also lose games we should win, and I think today was one of them.

"We always have to swap (players due to absentees). I don’t think I talk a lot about players we don’t have. Every time I am telling it doesn’t matter who we line up, we have to win.

"But the routines are not there if every time we have to swap.

"Today is another example. When (Rasmus) Hojlund is ill, we have to swap our frontline and we have seen it in the first half there was no speed in the game there."

This was quite the comedown from the Stephen's Day victory against Villa and the positivity some fans felt after the Christmas Eve announcement that Jim Ratcliffe is becoming minority owner.

INEOS are taking responsibility for the footballing operations and Ten Hag said on Friday that he was convinced they wanted to keep him on as manager.

Dave Brailsford, INEOS’ director of sport, watched Saturday’s game in the directors’ box alongside Alex Ferguson, whose final league title in 2013 looks unlikely to be added to anytime soon.

"They know me and they know when I have a squad what is available,