Manchester United's Anthony Martial scored 10 minutes after coming off the benchManchester United eased through their EFL Cup semi-final second-leg with Nottingham Forest to book a 1999 Wembley rematch with Newcastle.
Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Fred ensured victory on the night for Erik ten Hag's side, even though a place in the final was virtually secure anyway thanks to their 3-0 first-leg triumph at the City Ground.
Martial marked his return from a four-match injury absence by driving home his sixth goal of the season, after a pass intended for Marcus Rashford deflected back to the French striker 17 minutes from time.
Within 180 seconds, United had another when Bruno Fernandes picked out Rashford with a brilliant curling cross-field pass, which the England man turned into the path of Fred, who nudged the ball into an empty net from barely a yard out with his knee.
New signing Marcel Sabitzer watched from an executive box as United put themselves within one victory of their first trophy since 2017.
There was also a return to action for Jadon Sancho, who has not featured since October after Ten Hag put the England winger on an individual training programme in an effort to recover his form amid physical and mental issues.
Man Utd on trophy hunt
Anthony Martial's return bolsters Manchester United's attacking optionsWhilst their barren run does not compare with that of Newcastle, United know if they fail to win a trophy this season, it will be their longest run without silverware since the nine years after their European Cup triumph in 1968.
Ten Hag knows it and made reference to the demands placed upon him in his programme notes, saying: "This club must always aim to be chasing honours."
For the next three months at least, they will do so without Christian Eriksen, whose ankle injury has robbed United of arguably their most creative force.
The return of Martial and Sancho is therefore well-timed.
Ten Hag views Martial as his optimum number nine, whose fluidity and movement is capable of causing problems for any defence.
Sancho's talent for direct running is well known, even if it has not been seen that much since he returned to England from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
United beat Newcastle in the FA Cup final 24 years ago in the second leg of their historic treble.
They will be acutely aware their task this time around will not be made any easier by the fact they must entertain Barcelona in the Europa League three days before.
More to follow.
helpHow to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Nottingham Forest
Squad number13Player nameHennessey
Squad number7Player nameN Williams
Squad number30Player nameBoly
Squad number26Player nameMcKenna
Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi
Squad number23Player nameFreuler
Squad number5Player nameMangala
Squad number20Player nameJohnson
Squad number31Player nameGustavo Scarpa
Squad number25Player nameDennis
Squad number16Player nameSurridge
Squad number17Player nameMighten
Squad number24Player nameAurier
Squad number28Player nameDanilo
Squad number41Player nameHammond
Squad number49Player nameOsong
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-3-3
22Heaton
29Wan-Bissaka19Varane6Li Martínez23Shaw
8Bruno Fernandes18Casemiro17Fred
21Antony27Weghorst49Garnacho
22Heaton29Wan-Bissaka19VaraneSubstituted forMaguireat 80'minutes6Li Martínez23Shaw8Bruno Fernandes18CasemiroBooked at 68minsSubstituted forLindelöfat 80'minutes17FredBooked at 34mins21AntonySubstituted forSanchoat 63'minutes27WeghorstSubstituted forMartialat 63'minutes49GarnachoSubstituted forRashfordat 62'minutesSubstitutes
1de Gea2Lindelöf5Maguire9Martial10Rashford12Malacia25Sancho28Pellistri73MainooNottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
13Hennessey
7N Williams30Boly26McKenna32Lodi
23Freuler5Mangala
20Johnson31Furtado Scarpa25Dennis
16Surridge
13Hennessey7N Williams30Boly26McKenna32LodiSubstituted forAurierat 65'minutes23FreulerSubstituted fordos Santos de Oliveiraat 64'minutes5Mangala20JohnsonSubstituted forMightenat 64'minutes31Furtado ScarpaSubstituted forHammondat 86'minutes25Dennis16SurridgeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOsongat 86'minutesSubstitutes
3S Cook4Worrall17Mighten24Aurier28dos Santos de Oliveira41Hammond43Shelvey49OsongReferee:Peter BankesAttendance:72,315Live Text
Match ends, Manchester United 2, Nottingham Forest 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Nottingham Forest 0.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Alex Mighten (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Detlef Esapa Osong replaces Sam Surridge.
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Oliver Hammond replaces Gustavo Scarpa.
Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gustavo Scarpa (Nottingham Forest).
Attempt missed. Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right following a fast break.
Attempt saved. Danilo (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Willy Boly.
Substitution, Manchester United. Harry Maguire replaces Raphaël Varane.
Substitution, Manchester United. Victor Lindelöf replaces Casemiro.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest).
Goal! Manchester United 2, Nottingham Forest 0. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Attempt blocked. Gustavo Scarpa (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Danilo.
Goal! Manchester United 1, Nottingham Forest 0. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a fast break.
