Jesse Lingard was amongst the Nottingham Forest substitutes to jump out of their seats after Sam Surridge thought he equalised against Manchester United.
The 24-year-old slotted home midway through the first-half to equalise for the Reds after Marcus Rashford gave United the lead, sparking mayhem at The City Ground. It was a terrific finish from the ex-Bournemouth man, who coolly slotted home into the corner.
However, after a VAR check, Surridge was judged to be in an offside position in the build-up to his finish. He leaned just ahead of Victor Lindelof, the last defender, and the goal was chalked off.
But it didn’t stop Lingard from enjoying his side’s disallowed leveller from the bench as he jumped out of his seat, cutting a delighted figure. The former United midfielder then decided to embrace his fellow Forest substitutes on the bench and gave them a high-five.
After celebrating the goal, Lingard walked down the tunnel, before VAR even intervened and disallowed Surridge’s strike. However, the 30-year-old would then come out back to the bench with United still in front courtesy of Rashford’s terrific solo effort in the sixth minute.
The 25-year-old ran from his own half and shot past Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler, before smashing the ball beyond Wayne Hennessey. United looked dangerous every time they got the ball and were threatening, especially in wide areas through Rashford and Antony.
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Rashford kept driving at Serge Aurier at every opportunity, and with Joe Worrall coming over to back the Ivorian up, that left more space for Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst in the centre. In the 15th minute, United moved the ball out from left to right and the attack eventually ended with Antony, who could only curl the ball wide.
Despite United’s early dominance, Forest caught them cold on the counter-attack and levelled through Surridge. It was a sloppy piece of play from Rashford, who gave the ball to allow Morgan Gibbs-White to run through the United midfield before setting up the Forest striker. But United were dealt a lucky hand as the goal was ruled out.
Forest needed something of a spark and it felt as though the crowd reacted to that disallowed strike and got behind their troops. Brennan Johnson had a couple of chances to score, before Gustavo Scarpa stung the palms of David de Gea on the half hour mark.
But United weathered the Forest storm and added a second on the stroke of half-time through Weghorst’s first goal for the club. It was a poacher’s effort from the Dutchman, who was quickest to react to Bruno Fernandes’ saved effort, before stroking the ball into the roof of the net.
