Manchester United are searching for their fourth successive victory in the Premier League when they face Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Mason Mount and his Manchester United teammates celebrate his early goal against Sunderland(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Everyone is asking what has changed at Manchester United in recent weeks, and a big part of their upturn in form may be something very simple.
Far too often United have found themselves behind and facing a mountain to club to get back into games, but fast starts have been key to their recent revival.
Against Sunderland the Reds were ahead eight minutes in and at Liverpool they scored after little more than 60 seconds. They could have scored earlier than they did against Brighton but they eventually took the lead after 24 minutes thanks to Matheus Cunha.
Getting an early goal gives the team confidence – something United have been lacking of late – and it’s been key to United’s recent positive performances.
It was particularly important against Sunderland when the pressure was firmly on Ruben Amorim. This weekend will be the first time Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been in the dugout for a Premier League home game at the City Ground and so it is vital United continue the trend of starting fast.
The atmosphere is likely to be electric and Forest’s supporters will be hoping their team can address their poor start to the season. United will be under pressure in the opening stages but if they can grab a goal early on suddenly it’s a totally different game.
Forest heads may drop considering their poor form this season and that is when United could start to turn up the heat. The Reds know they will be backed by a great following and bursting the home supporters’ optimism early doors will only help their game plan.
United need to avoid conceding first. If they do that, it becomes a long afternoon as the Forest players’ confidence returns and their home fans crank up the volume.
That’s not to say United don’t have the players and the talent to come from behind. But scoring first could be the key to them securing their fourth win in a row.
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