An 89th-minute goal to settle a tense FA Cup tie might sound like a real “glory, glory, Man United” moment. 

But Casemiro’s game-winning goal seemed like a strange accident after Erik ten Hag’s team had another terrible game. 

Bruno Fernandes’ free kick from the left side of the pitch bounced in front of the goal. Casemiro added the lightest of touches with his head, and after a long VAR check for offside, Manchester United made it into the quarterfinals.

At least they didn’t lose again at the City Ground in two months, which would have been a nightmare and meant they wouldn’t have won any trophies this season. 

But Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s big plans to “knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch” seemed a long way off from this point of view. 

The sports director for Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, was here on the eve of his 15th birthday. On Thursday, he turns 60, which may sound confusing; just look at the date.

Brailsford is said to be planning to get rid of a lot of United’s staff this summer, and this showing was another sign that some players will be let go.

United was poor, and the fact that Forest was even poorer was good for them. 

At this famous old stadium, it felt like a real Cup tie, but it wasn’t like an old-school knockout game—in the second half, there was a better chance of falling asleep than getting Cup fever.

After the disaster of Saturday’s home loss to Fulham, which stopped a five-game winning streak, Ten Hag put Kobbie Mainoo and Omari Forson on the bench in favour of more experienced players. Harry Maguire was also hurt and couldn’t play. 

Antony and Scott McTominay came on, and Sofyan Amrabat filled in as a left-back at the last minute.

Before the game, important parts of United’s Premier League loss here two months ago were shown on a big screen, which made the guests even more nervous. 

But Ten Hag’s team almost took the lead in the fourth minute when a corner was not played far enough. Bruno Fernandes set up Antony, who hit the bar with a shot.

Soon after, Diogo Dalot’s cross gave McTominay a free header from eight yards out, but he couldn’t get it past keeper Matt Turner. 

Then Rashford scored after McTominay set him up. 

Early on, United had the most chances, but Forest also had a lot of attacking threats, especially Anthony Elanga, who was sacked by United last summer and had something to show.

Taiwo Awoniyi, a real threat through the middle, had an angled shot saved by Andre Onana. United’s midfield was very sloppy, making the rumours that Casemiro’s “legs were going” seem very likely. 

With another Dalot centre, a header from McTominay was pushed around the post, but the guests looked angry.

Rashford was yelling at the referee, Chris Kavanagh, while Ten Hag was yelling at some of his teammates. 

It looked like United could be hurt every time Forest moved forward, but Nuno’s team made bad decisions in the closing third. 

In the beginning of the second half, Elanga set up Awoniyi, but Onana blocked his shot. Then, Divock Origi ran past a few players but his shot was blocked.

The best fight going on at this point seemed to be between Rashford and Fernandes over which United player had the worst body language. 

The best offensive player for United was Dalot, who set Rashford free. Rashford bounced off of Murillo and Felipe, fell, and then waved his arms around some more. 

United looked like they were stuck, but Fernandes curled a shot wide with the outside of his boot, and then McTominay blocked another one.

Even though United was starting to take control, Forest was starting to lose steam. Without Rasmus Hojlund, their attacks didn’t have a focus point. 

Ten Hag replaced Antony with Amad Diallo while shouts of “what a waste of money” played in the background. This was the soundtrack to the life of the £86 million Brazilian.

Victor Lindelof got a yellow card for a dirty hit on Elanga, and then Nuno replaced Origi with Callum Hudson-Odoi. 

Fernandes’s clever pass to Rashford led to a shot that went wide, and United’s captain was now giving Forest trouble. Casemiro then curled a shot just over the bar. 

Casemiro beat the custodian at his near post with a touch after Fernandes sent in a free kick in the 89th minute.

The VAR officer, Michael Salisbury, looked at Raphael Varane for a long time to see if he was blocking a Forest defender, but United got away with it. 

And right now Ten Hag’s main goal is to stay alive.