Manchester United Misery Mounts In Nottingham Forest Defeat

Manchester United's miserable season hit a new low as they crashed to a dismal 2-1 defeat at Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Erik ten Hag's side produced a wretched display that was punished by Morgan Gibbs-White's late winner at the City Ground. Nicolas Dominguez had put Forest ahead in the second half before Marcus Rashford equalised with just his third goal of a woeful campaign. United's fourth loss in their last six games in all competitions left them languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, nine points adrift of the top four.

United's stirring fightback from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Tuesday had been heralded as the start of a new era just days after Jim Ratcliffe's investment in the troubled club.

British billionaire Ratcliffe purchased a 25 percent stake in United for around £1.03 billion ($1.3 billion) on Christmas Eve.

Ratcliffe's INEOS Group will take control of United's football operations from unpopular owners the Glazer family.

But despite Ten Hag's claim on Friday that Ratcliffe wants to work with him, this was the latest evidence that the new regime might consider dismissing the beleaguered Dutchman.

INEOS's head of sport Dave Brailsford was watching alongside the club's former boss Alex Ferguson at the City Ground as United were beaten by Forest for the first time since 1994.

Ten Hag will have to oversee a significant improvement in United's results and performances to avoid the axe.

Forest moved five points clear of the relegation zone after Nuno Espirito Santo masterminded his second successive high-profile victory.

Nuno's first win as Forest boss after replacing the sacked Steve Cooper came against Newcastle, but this was an even bigger scalp.

Turgid