Marcus Rashford continued his recent Manchester United renaissance, with a deadly goal and assist combo before HT on the way to a 3-0 landslide victory, which kept Nottingham Forest embedded in the Premier League (PL)`s bottom three while putting the Red Devils within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham.
United`s early pressure was as persistent as the torrential rain that lashed Old Trafford during an entertaining first half, and after Tyrell Malacia saw a fierce drive turned onto a post by Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, United went ahead in the 20th minute thanks to a well-worked set piece.
Christian Eriksen displayed his customarily superb vision to slide his corner kick into the path of Rashford, who guided home classily from close range for his 10th club goal in all competitions this season, to follow up his supreme solo effort against Burnley in the Carabao Cup last week.
After returning World Cup finalist Raphaël Varane and early pacesetter Malacia helped move the ball up the pitch, Bruno Fernandes played a perfect pass down the left into the path of Rashford, who burst forward and chopped inside Serge Aurier before finding Anthony Martial.
His side-footed effort audaciously beat the dive of Wayne Hennessey after going through the legs of Willy Boly, surely sealing the game with well over an hour remaining.
Boosted by fresh legs, the pair combined to set up Rashford, who was denied impressively by Hennessey.
Forest`s first PL away win in 23 years remains elusive, and with the team`s sole league goal on hostile turf still dating back to a 1-1 draw at Everton in August, their odds for an instant relegation will stay painfully short going into 2023.
