The halfway point in the season and Manchester United are still in the hunt for their fifth Premiership title, albeit without necessarily showing a great deal of conviction.
Much huffing and puffing was required against Forest before the cry of "timber" could be heard from the home bench, and a single win in seven games seems thin ballast to be carrying into what should be one of the season's defining moments at the table-toppers Chelsea tomorrow night.
With Japp Stam injured and Gary Neville suspended, Henning Berg and Ronny Johnsen enjoyed a Norwegian pairing at centreback and helped United keep their first clean sheet since the goalless draw with Newcastle on November 8th.
Alex Ferguson has recently acquired the habit of leaping touchily to the defence of his much criticised back four, but he knows he has no fears for the Premiership's top scorers going forward, especially with David Beckham in such commanding form. On Saturday the young midfielder seemed pacier than before, and his right boot has become devastatingly accurate. He was the fount of everything good that came from United.
That was good news for the 55,000-plus at the ground, bad news for Forest, who to their credit put up a spirited show for at least the first 28 minutes as they endeavoured to avoid equalling their own Premiership record of 16 games without a win. One sweep of Beckham's right foot ensured they would, when his corner dropped perfectly on to Johnsen's head for United's opener.
Johnsen scored again in the 59th minute, from Berg's nod down, but the pick of the bunch came three minutes later when Beckham wrong-footed the defence to release Ryan Giggs through a delicious chip over the charging goalkeeper Dave Beasant. It was United's 39th goal in the league and certainly among their best.
MAN UTD: Schmeichel, Neville, Irwin, Berg, Johnsen, Beckham, Butt, Sheringham, Giggs (Blomqvist 75), Keane (Greening 66), Scholes (Solskjaer 62). Subs Not Used: Brown, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Neville. Goals: Johnsen 28, 59, Giggs 62.
NOTTM FOREST: Beasant, Louis-Jean, Rogers, Quashie, Chettle (Doig 68), Stone (Hodges 77), Shipperley, Johnson, Bart-Williams (Bonalair 53), Freedman, Armstrong. Subs Not Used: Darcheville, Crossley. Booked: Rogers, Quashie, Chettle.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
