Manchester United’s scoring struggles continued on Tuesday night as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, despite recording 23 shots — their highest in a Premier League match without a goal in over two years.
It marked the 11th time in 30 league matches this season that United have failed to find the back of the net, as their lack of attacking efficiency once again proved costly.
Not since a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in September 2021, when they managed 28 attempts, have United been this prolific in front of goal without scoring.
Head coach Ruben Amorim defended the performance, saying his team “created chances” and “reached the final third a lot of times”, but admitted United could have done more with the ball. “We need to be better in that final third because it is really important to score goals, and we have a lack of goals,” he conceded.
The Athletic’s recent article delves deep into the statistics.
United’s expected goals (xG) total of 1.63 dwarfed Forest’s 0.48, yet it was the hosts who emerged victorious thanks to an early strike from Anthony Elanga.
From the fifth minute on, Forest had no incentive to attack and instead focused on frustrating their visitors — a task they executed perfectly.
The Red Devils failed to break down a Forest side that dropped deep and defended with discipline. Their best chances came only after a dramatic tactical shift in the closing stages when centre back Harry Maguire was pushed forward as an emergency striker in the 88th minute.
Remarkably, in just eight minutes on the pitch, the 6ft 4in defender produced three efforts worth a combined xG of 0.60 — equal to what Rasmus Hojlund has amassed over his last six league appearances.
These were United’s most threatening moments of the game, which says much about the failings of their attacking unit. Prior to Maguire’s introduction, their best opportunity came from a first-half set piece, when Diogo Dalot’s header struck the bar before falling to Matthijs de Ligt, who could only fire into the ground from a tight angle.
Dead-ball situations have been one of the few reliable sources of goals this term.
United have scored 10 times from set pieces — among the top five in the division — but remain average when it comes to creating chances in open play. De Ligt’s 0.15 xG rebound stood as their highest-quality chance until Maguire arrived.
Garnacho was once again United’s liveliest attacker, recording six shots. One counterattack offered a promising moment, with Garnacho driving forward and opting to shoot rather than passing to the overlapping Dorgu or Christian Eriksen. His effort was blocked, and a similar solo attempt minutes later ended high and wide.
Amorim reflected on the Argentine’s display post-match, noting that “sometimes, he is trying too much” and failed to make the best decisions in key areas.
United have now failed to score in more than a third of their league fixtures and have only won ten of their 30 matches. Their conversion rate of just 9.14 per cent is the fourth-worst in the top flight.
As the defeat at Forest showed once again, this is a team that needs a high volume of chances to score — and even then, they often come up empty-handed.
To address their chronic scoring issues, United may have no choice but to go all-in for a proven striker in the summer transfer window.
While the club have invested heavily in Hojlund, the young Dane has yet to deliver consistently at the top level. He has shown glimpses of promise but has not justified his significant price tag.
If United are serious about becoming a top side again, reinforcements are essential.
Victor Osimhen could be an obvious solution — a powerful, lethal finisher with a track record of delivering under pressure.
Another compelling option is Victor Gyökeres of Sporting, who has thrived under Ruben Amorim and could be an easier fit given the manager’s familiarity.
Neither player will come cheap and much will hinge on United’s ability to offload fringe players and secure European qualification.
Winning the Europa League would not only guarantee a Champions League spot but also boost the club’s appeal and financial muscle in the market — something Amorim and his players must now treat as a top priority.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Raj Dholakia
Raj is a seasoned digital writer and editor with a deep-seated passion for football. With over four years in the digital space, he has contributed to Sportlens, ManUtdNews, and is now proudly writing for The Peoples Person. His work is driven by a commitment to capture the essence of football, delivering content that speaks to the heart of fans worldwide.
