When does a result like this stop feeling like a surprise? This was third against 13th in the Premier League and the team with all the points and all the credit in the bank were playing at home. Already this season, Liverpool and Arsenal had come to the City Ground and failed to win. Manchester City, the champions, had lost.

Still, though, the change in football’s order of things feels strange. Nottingham Forest beating Manchester United still feels big and that’s because it is. Forest’s journey up the ladder remains an underdog story – a tale of collectivism trumping individualism – and here that was played out in all its marvellous sporting glory once again.

Forest are a good side. We know that. But they still have to work devilishly hard for every single point they get, especially on nights like this.

Outside by the Trent, those without a ticket set off fireworks. Forest are now in an FA Cup semi final and have a 10-point cushion the right side of the Champions League cut off. This is a season that has already delivered much for Nuno Espirito Santo and his players but the crucial thing is that momentum still appears to be with them.

United would pay for some of that precious gift right now. Ruben Amorim’s team were better here than they have been at times this season. They passed the ball well for periods and were more cohesive. But you have to be better than that – you have to bring more than that – to beat Nuno’s side on their own ground and ultimately United didn’t have it and are still waiting for two back-to-back league wins this season.

Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 1-0 to take them closer to the Champions League

Anthony Elanga’s stunning goal in the fifth minute against his former club was the difference

Forest are now nine points clear of fifth place Man City as their dream campaign continues 

The scale of Forest’s physical effort was immense. Fresh from an extra-time and penalties victory at Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday, they must have felt every single one of those 120 minutes in their legs as they sought to defend a lead given them by Anthony Elanga in just the fourth minute.

Some goal it was, too. Elanga was once a United boy, of course, but it is at Forest where he has discovered his true sense of self. Some statistics can be misleading in football but the key ones around Elanga’s goal were not. Elanga ran 85 metres with the ball in nine seconds in bursting up field to score what transpired to be the winning goal.

It was a startling run and a superb finish and, put together, added up to one of the goals of the season. The City Ground has witnessed much that has been special this season and this goal was right up there with the best of that.

Amorim will doubtless be irritated that the goal came straight from a United corner. Nevertheless, Elanga was rapid as he drove from within his own half to leave players flailing behind him and panicking in front of him. Alejandro Garnacho – no slouch himself – was closest to getting him as he lunged from behind. The United central defenders, meanwhile, didn’t know whether to stick or twist as Elanga had players joining him on the overlap.

In the end, as Noussair Mazraoui decided to back off, Elanga reached the edge of the penalty area and shot low to Andre Onana’s left into the bottom corner. Once again this famous old stadium was alive.

United were shaken but they stirred themselves. They broke the Forest press on a number of occasions and did create chances. 

Bruno Fernandes – engaged in a running battle with the fabulous Forest captain Ryan Yates – brought a low save from Sels and headed a Diogo Dalot cross in to the goalkeeper’s midriff. 

Then Casemiro headed wide from a corner before Dalot himself met another set piece with a looping header against the bar. Matthijs de Ligt followed up at the far post but he shot was not powerful enough to really trouble the goalkeeper.

United had much of the play but squandered several openings and couldn’t find a way through 

Harry Maguire missed a huge chance in added time after coming on as an emergency striker

Forest also defended brilliantly as they picked up their 13th clean sheet of the season

It was a frustrating evening for Ruben Amorim, whose side were caught on the counter early on

It was a feisty evening at the City Ground as both sides left everything out on the pitch

Elanga, who joined Forest from United for £15m in July 2023, put in a stunning performance

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side continue to upset the odds and took another scalp on Tuesday

For long spells, United were the better team but they were not clinical. Nowhere near it. Indeed for the first 25 minutes of the second period they lost their way. Yates brought a save from Onana with a header – though he may have been offside – while Morgan Gibbs White shot over.

United remained in it but were ragged at times. They allowed themselves to be dragged in to a midfield scrap and Yates essentially won it on his own. 

Casemiro was dragged off for his own good by his manager after fouling the Forest player while Fernandes could not escape from his opponent’s shadow. Yates will not play in the FA Cup semi-final because of suspension and maybe we could see some of that frustration manifesting in adrenaline here.

It remained a thrilling game to the end. United finished it with Maguire playing up front. He headed one chance wide and Murillo denied him at the death.

Forest sit 20 points ahead of United on Wednesday morning. That is a remarkable thing.