Read the detailed match report of all the action here.

(A score of 6 is around average)

Elyh Harrison – 8 – The clear man of the match, United can thank him for earning a point on the night. Made six saves, the majority of which were from inside the box and he had little business stopping. One stop in particular was exceptionally good as he stood tall and waited until the last moment to commit with the striker bearing down on him. The only blemish on his performance was a few sloppy passes out from the back. Might make Altay Bayindir redundant next season at this rate!

Jaydan Kamason – 4 – A night to forget for the 17-year-old, he had a really tough time with Detlaf Esapa Osong drifting wide and making runs in behind him. Only his second appearance at u21s level, he wasn’t used to the increased speed of the game and was looking for too much time and space with the ball which wasn’t given and led to a number of turnovers.

Rhys Bennett – 5 – Playing next to the inexperienced Kamason, he wasn’t able to offer enough support to cut out the constant danger in the channel between them which left a lot of openings for Forest.

Sonny Aljofree – 6.5 – Found himself in a bit of a 1v1 battle throughout the 90 minutes with Ateef Konaté and handled himself well. A skilful player and experienced at 23, Konate couldn’t get much change from Aljofree and was visibly annoyed by the end of the match as Aljofree exchanged words after their battles with a smile on his face.

Sam Murray – 6.5 – A solid performance, he defended well and in particular did well to get out and block crosses consistently. Also composed on the ball without offering a great attacking threat.

Jacob Devaney – 6 – Couldn’t really get his foot on the ball in midfield but did well defensively and often dropped deep to help cover Forest’s dangerous left side.

Ruben Curley – 5 – Never really got into the match as it passed by United’s entire midfield.

James Scanlon – 5 – Looked visibly tired from the off and was easily muscled off the ball when he received it. But with three matches in the last 7 days, it is understandable as he has played a lot of football this season for a 17-year-old.

Maxi Oyedele – 4 – Another poor match for Oyedele as he offered little control in the number 10 position with sloppy touches and erratic passing. His lack of effort was most striking late on when McAllister was pressing higher up the pitch while simultaneously tracking back deeper as well.

Sam Mather – 5 – Had a few openings on the left wing but either had his shots blocked or failed to find a teammate before completely drifting out of the match.

Charlie McNeill – 6.5 – A lone bright spark in attack for most of the match, he was left to do it all himself and almost did. His effort to chase down balls opened up chances for him, having a chance cleared off the line and hitting the post but he ultimately couldn’t quite find the finish.

Substitutes

Ethan Williams – 6.5 – Did more than the other wings combined in just half an hour with his directness and pace. Provided some good deliveries into the box too, one of which McNeill directed off the post.

Finley McAllister – 6 – Added a bit of much-needed energy in the middle of the park and looked to press high and offer support in attack.

Jack Kingdon – N/A – Not on the pitch long enough.

Gabriele Biancheri – N/A – Only on for the final minutes but still drew a yellow card with a good run down the left wing.

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With the season approaching the end, United were looking for a result to ensure they finished within the top 16 to advance to the play-offs.

The opening stages saw the match go back and forth as both sides looked to find their feet and it was Charlie McNeill who created the first big chance when he chased down a long ball to win the ball in Forest’s area before rounding the keeper and striking towards the open goal but the recovering defender made a magnificent goal line clearance.

The match then became one-way traffic for the most part as Forest threatened and United struggled to get any sort of passing game going under the press of Warren Joyce’s home side.

The lone spark for United was McNeill who latched onto another ball before working space into Forest’s box and striking low but he was denied by a good save.

Forest’s danger man Detlef Esapa Osong was causing all sorts of trouble, especially when he drifted out to United’s righthand side. Forest’s number nine hit the back of the net just after the 40th minute but it was quickly ruled out for offside.

Osong then came close again just before the halftime break, forcing a top save from Elyh Harrison.

Into the second half, it was much of the same as United continued to look sloppy in possession and unable to keep up with Forest’s intensity.

Jaydan Kamason lost the ball at the back to give Forest a chance but Sam Murray was on hand to make an important block.

Osong then cut through United coming inside from the left to shoot from 10 yards out but he was denied again by a strong hand from Harrison.

Substitute Ethan Williams added a bit of life to the attack for United and provided a delightful cross for McNeill who poked towards goal, hitting it off the right post.

Late in the match, Osong was played in behind down the left again but despite many chances, he still couldn’t find a way to beat Harrison in goal who walked away as the clear man of the match.

With the match edging towards a close, an over-the-top challenge from Jamie Newton on Sam Murray saw the Forest substitute see a straight red card in injury time.

Fortunately, Murray was back on his feet quickly but there was no time for United to use the man advantage and the match ended 0-0.

The draw was enough to clinch a playoff berth for United though as they remain in 15th place with one match remaining. A top 12 finish to qualify for the Premier League International Cup next season is still technically within reach for United but it will require results to go their way on the final matchday.

United: Harrison, Kamason (Kingdon 86), Bennett, Aljofree, Murray, Devaney, Curley (McAllister 63), Scanlon (Williams 63), Oyedele, Mather, McNeill (Biancheri 86)

Unused subs: Plumley

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Manchester United have lifted the u18s Premier League Cup for the first time after a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City.

Founded in 2013, the competition was initially set up just at u21s level as a counterpart to the u18s FA Youth Cup. But, in 2017 the Premier League Cup was added to the u18s and u16s (later changed to u17s) age groups.

Before Adam Lawrence’s sides victory, United had failed to make it to the final of the competition in any of the three age groups, let alone go on to lift the trophy.

United’s previous best result in the u18s competition was a semi-finals loss to Manchester City in the 2018/19 season.

The club’s current u18s are the strongest group seen in a long time though, as they lift the cup and league double having also won the Premier League North – a feat achieved for the first time in six years.

A special moment for our young Reds!

#U18PLCup #MUFC || #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/azlzUMqERQ

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 23, 2024

Lifted by captain Finley McAllister, the Salford native is a boyhood United supporter who can regularly be found attending first-team matches home and away, and his hard work in last night’s cup win left him on the ground after the final whistle as he looked to fight off cramping muscles.

Ethan Wheatley’s first half brace ultimately secured the 2-1 win over Manchester City in what was a resilient 90 minutes of football, as United fought to the dying seconds to claim the trophy.

The striker, who was taken off at the half-time break in order to be involved with Erik ten Hag’s first team against Sheffield United on Wednesday night, has found a comfortable home in the Premier League Cup this season, scoring nine goals in six matches in the competition.

In addition to his double in the final, Wheatley also scored two in the semi-finals win over Crystal Palace. With 20 goals to his name on the season, it is no surprise his recent performances have caught the eyes of Ten Hag and seen him named to the bench for the first team.

But Wheatley wasn’t the only one to impress as United defeated Reading, Southampton, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Manchester City en route to lifting the trophy, with the entire squad playing a part.

Normally not having a chance to face the southern clubs due to the split in the u18s league, Adam Lawrence was happy with the club getting to experience new opponents on their run to the finals.

Lawrence stated “it’s given us a different taste and a different flavour for the boys to be playing against teams across the country.”

With development always at the forefront of the coaching staff’s minds, Lawrence added that, “I think in development, when you get to these stages you realise that you need that level of competition and you need those sort of tests to see where you’re at as part of your journey. And as part of your development as a player and as a team as well.”

A level of competition which has pushed United to the limits – quite literally as Elyh Harrison was forced to make a cup-winning save late into injury time – but has ultimately been conquered by the outstanding group of players.

With a number of the players who played a key role in winning the u18s double already working their way into Ten Hag’s matchday squads, it is only a matter of time before fans see them take the next step in their development towards make their first-team debuts.

Now equipped with the experience of winning trophies, Carrington’s special class of 2024 will be looking to bring their winning mentality back to the senior level at Old Trafford.

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