(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sun 17 May 2026 14:28, UK

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Nottingham Forest slipped to a defeat in their final away game of the Premier League season as they lost 3-2 away at Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds have been resurgent in recent weeks to secure their place in the top flight for another season, but they were unable to find a way beyond a United side that are heading back to the Champions League in 2026-27.

Luke Shaw set the hosts on their way when he found the bottom corner in the sixth minute, before Morato and Matheus Cunha exchanged quickfire goals early into the second half.

Bryan Mbeumo ended his goal drought to add the third in the 76th minute, before Morgan Gibbs-White replied with the visitors’ second after 79.

It was a disappointing performance from Forest on Sunday afternoon, and with that in mind, Football Insider rates the performances of every single Reds player.

Chris Wood anonymous in Nottingham Forest attack

Forest had been expecting Chris Wood to be out for the season just a few months ago, but his recent return to the fold has been hugely welcome for Pereira and his men.

However, the New Zealand international has made a relatively mixed impact since returning to fitness, as he has registered just one goal in the Premier League after his return.

The Reds rely on the 34-year-old to be the focal point of their attack, but he was completely anonymous in their frontline during Sunday’s game at Old Trafford.

Wood struggled to play his way into the encounter, and he was unable to pose the same questions to the opposition backline that we have become used to seeing from him.

His chances to fire at goal were few and far between, and he also lost the majority of his duels as he regularly failed to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

It was a disappointing display from the striker, who was worthy of little more than a 4/10 match rating.

Elliot Anderson the driving force for Forest

Elliot Anderson has become a major talking point across the Premier League, as a string of outstanding performances have seen him become a shoo-in for the England squad.

The midfielder is likely to be heading into his final weeks as a Forest player, amid strong links for a move to almost every ‘big six’ club in recent months, and he treated the fans to another masterclass on Sunday.

The former Newcastle man was by far his team’s best performer on Sunday as he controlled their play in the middle of the park, and also chipped in with a staggering 19 defensive contributions.

However, Anderson’s best work came with the ball at his feet, as he set up both goals wth two delicious crosses for his teammates, which were gleefully turned home.

He was also strong in the duels, as he turned in the kind of display that has generated so much hype around him over the course of the campaign.

Anderson was exceptional for Forest yet again in the middle of the park and worthy of an 8/10 rating.

Nottingham Forest player ratings vs Man United

Matz Sels – 5

Neco Williams – 6

Nikola Milenkovic – 5

Morato – 7

Luca Netz – 6

Omari Hutchinson – 4

Elliot Anderson – 8

Nicolas Dominguez – 6

Morgan Gibbs-White – 6

Igor Jesus – 5

Chris Wood – 4

Substitutes

Ibrahim Sangare (On for Dominguez 70′) – 6

Taiwo Awoniyi (On for Wood 70′) – 5

Dilane Bakwa (On for Hutchinson 70′) – 5

Jair Cunha (On for Netz 84′) – N/A

James McAtee (On for Jesus 84′) – N/A