Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said it was a big moment for the club to secure their first win at Old Trafford since 1994 with a 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

Forest, who fought off relegation last season, are fifth in the league with 25 points from 15 matches, two points behind defending champions Manchester City.

“Huge moment for all of us in the club. So many years, now it’s time to celebrate,” Nuno told Forest TV. “First action of the game we score, makes a big difference.”

Forest, who had secured their first win at Anfield since 1969 by beating leaders Liverpool 1-0 in September, have grown as a team over the last year, Nuno said.

“The growing process of the team today was evident, the way we controlled the tempo of the game,” he added. “We have to be better … this is what we are achieving.

“Every day we should improve on. Because the talent is there. We still make mistakes that we should not have done.”

Forest next host Aston Villa, who are also on 25 points in sixth place, on Saturday.

Alex Iwobi scored with Fulham’s only two shots on target to lead them to a 3-1 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, after a major blunder by Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen had gifted the hosts an early lead.

Iwobi got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when Verbruggen tried to play the ball out but passed it straight to the Fulham forward who tapped into the far corner of the open net.

“We know that Brighton like to play out from the back so we came up with a structure and it obviously worked for the first goal,” Iwobi told Amazon Prime. “We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal.”

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said the goal should not have counted because he was fouled on the play.

“How the ref or VAR can’t see it, it is what it is,” Dunk said. “It’s annoying. If you watch the replay, it’s a clear foul, a push in my back.”

Brighton did look the more dangerous team and Carlos Baleba grabbed the equaliser in the 56th minute when Joao Pedro laid the ball off with a backheel and the midfielder fired in a blistering low shot before celebrating with a backflip.

Fulham retook the lead in the 79th minute on a wet and windy night at Craven Cottage when Andreas Pereira lashed in a corner which hit the back of Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and went into the net.

Iwobi completed his brace eight minutes later when he latched on to a pass from Antonee Robinson and spun past a defender before shooting into the far corner.

“It was a big three points for us in a tough game,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half.

“Second half we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. Difficult game but a big three points for us.”

Fulham climbed to sixth in the league table, one point behind fifth-placed Brighton, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler watched from the stands in frustration while serving a touchline ban.

His team squandered several good chances, including a strike from Pedro that Bernd Leno palmed aside and Simon Adingra fired straight at the Fulham keeper from a pinpoint cross by Kaoru Mitoma.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game,” Dunk said. “We picked ourselves up and I thought we were the better team, but that’s football.”

-Reuters

Ruud van Nistelrooy savoured his first match in charge of Leicester City with a 3-1 English Premier League home win over West Ham United on Dec 3, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich Town 1-0.

Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka got the goals as van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his new role shortly after his departure from Manchester United.

“On a long-term basis we know the performances need to get better. But the spirit and how we want to do things we saw them today,” said the Dutchman.

“In the end you look at the result and the three points, it’s vital.

“We know the level in the Premier League and we know every game we play that everything has to be right. We have to train and develop our defence, our counter attack, our possession.

“Lots of things to work on but very happy with the three points.”

A lethal finisher in his playing days, van Nistelrooy watched on approvingly as Vardy opened the scoring after just 99 seconds at the King Power Stadium.

The 37-year-old had initially been flagged offside, but a VAR (video assistant referee) review showed he was clearly on for his fifth goal of the season.

Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games.

The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had 31 shots to Leicester’s eight but failed to make it count.

“A frustrating night because we deserved much more today,” said Lopetegui. “Normally we have to win this match but we didn’t because we didn’t score.”

West Ham did have a goal controversially ruled out when Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punched the ball into his own net and was relieved to be awarded a foul due to minimal contact from Tomas Soucek.

Conor Coady also cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville in the second half.

But Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and doubled their lead when El Khannouss coolly stroked home Kasey McAteer’s pass.

Daka then blasted in to make it 3-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug netted a late consolation with his first West Ham goal.

Elsewhere, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road as Palace won the battle of two more sides at the bottom end of the table.

The Frenchman produced a classy finish from Eberechi Eze’s pass on the hour mark to secure the Eagles’ first away win of the season.

Palace pull three points clear of the bottom three, before another round of fixtures on Dec 4, while Ipswich remain second from bottom and winless at home on their return to the top flight.

However, Palace captain Marc Guehi is now at risk of a suspension after defying a Football Association warning over displaying religious messages.

As part of the “Rainbow Laces” campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, Premier League captains are wearing rainbow-coloured armbands.

Guehi’s armband bore the message “I love Jesus” during their 1-1 draw against Newcastle last weekend, prompting the FA to contact Guehi and Palace and remind them of rules forbidding the display of religious messages.

The England defender doubled down on his message with “Jesus loves you” displayed on his rainbow-coloured armband.

“Everyone now is about integration, no discrimination and Marc as well,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner. “He has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion.”

Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who also caused controversy by opting not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again wore a regular armband.

His club issued a statement on Dec 2 saying he chose not to wear the rainbow armband due to his religious beliefs.

-AFP