It may sound like a true ‘glory, glory Man United’ moment: an 89th-minute winner to clinch a tense FA Cup tie.

However, Casemiro’s clinching goal was a curious fluke, following another miserably flat performance from Erik ten Hag’s team.

Casemiro headed the winner from close range.

The ball wiggled past Matt Turner at the near post.

Casemiro rejoiced fiercely after his decisive strike.

Casemiro had to wait for a VAR check before the winner was certified.

Manchester United shaded the momentum of the game.
Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick from the left-hand touchline bounced in front of goal, Casemiro made the tiniest of touches with his head, and after a protracted VAR check for offside, Manchester United limped into the quarter-finals.

At the very least, they averted the dreadful situation of suffering a second defeat at the City Ground in two months, confirming a trophyless season.

However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s grandiose plans to “knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch” were light years away from here.

Sir Dave Brailsford, Ratcliffe’s sporting director, was here on the eve of his 15th birthday on Thursday, when he will be 60 – and if that seems strange, check the date.Brailsford is thought to be preparing a summer staff clearout, and this was another performance that hinted at a deadwood sale.United were impoverished, and their only salvation was that Forest were even poorer.There was a good Cup tie atmosphere at this historic old stadium, but this was no old-school knockout encounter; in the second half, there was a better chance of falling asleep than being engrossed in Cup fever.Following Saturday’s home defeat by Fulham, which broke a five-match winning streak, Ten Hag chose for experience, benching young combo Kobbie Mainoo and Omari Forson, while Harry Maguire was sidelined due to injury.Best free bet sign-up offers for UK bookmakers.Casemiro was the match winner for Manchester United at Forest on Wednesday evening.Antony and Scott McTominay were brought in, along with Sofyan Amrabat as a makeshift left-back.Before kickoff, they showed big-screen highlights of United’s Premier League defeat here two months ago, which added to the visitors’ nervousness.

Ten Hag’s men nearly took the lead in the fourth minute when a corner was played short and Bruno Fernandes feed Antony, who hit the crossbar.Soon after, Diogo Dalot’s cross provided McTominay with a clear header from eight yards out, but he was unable to direct his shot away from keeper Matt Turner.Then McTominay set up Rashford, who blazed over.While United had the better early chances, Forest had plenty of attacking threat, particularly Anthony Elanga, who had a point to prove after being sacked by United last summer.Taiwo Awoniyi, a genuine threat through the middle, had an angled drive saved by Andre Onana, and there was much of sloppiness in United’s midfield, where whispers of Casemiro’s “legs going” appeared to be true.McTominay’s header was pushed around the post by another Dalot centre, but the visitors were clearly frustrated.Rashford was communicating with his teammates in an upset semaphore, while Ten Hag was kicking off at referee Chris Kavanagh.United were vulnerable every time Forest raced forward, but Nuno’s men’s decision-making in the final third left much to be desired.Early in the second half, Elanga supplied Awoniyi, whose shot was saved by Onana, before Divock Origi raced past a couple of defenders and had a shot blocked.At this time, the most interesting debate appeared to be between Rashford and Fernandes about which United player had the worst body language.Dalot, United’s finest offensive full-back, released Rashford, who bounced off Murillo and Felipe, tumbled over, and swung his arms around again.Fernandes curled one wide with the outside of his boot, and teammate McTominay deflected another wide.Forest were sagging now, with United gaining power, but without Rasmus Hojlund, their attacks lacked focus.Antony was withdrawn amid screams of “what a waste of money” – the soundtrack to the £86 million Brazilian’s life – and Ten Hag replaced him with Amad Diallo.

Victor Lindelof was booked for a nasty foul on Elanga before Nuno brought on Callum Hudson-Odoi in place of Origi.Rashford fired wide after a Fernandes ball, the United captain’s skill increasingly causing difficulties for Forest, before Casemiro curled narrowly past.

However, in the 89th minute, Fernandes supplied a free kick that Casemiro converted beyond Turner, beating the goalie at his near post.VAR Michael Salisbury conducted a lengthy review to determine whether the offside Raphael Varane was impeding a Forest defender, but United survived.Right now, Ten Hag’s main goal is to survive.