Rashford eases Manchester United to first-leg win over Nottingham Forest

That only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Marcus Rashford among Premier League players in all competitions this season places the England strikers progress in perspective as his 18th of the season allowed Manchester United to place one foot in the Carabao Cup final.

If Sundays defeat at Arsenal curtailed any optimistic dreaming of league glory, perhaps it served to whet Erik ten Hags appetite to land a more realistic target for silverware in the cups. His first XI made short shrift of Nottingham Forest in the first leg of this semi-final as further goals from Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes gave them a comfortable cushion before next Wednesdays return leg at Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United: Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg live reaction

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The return of Casemiro, after he was suspended at the Emirates, leant a calm and a drive to Uniteds midfield but it was Rashfords brilliant directness that helped set them apart from opponents who are now free to focus on retaining their Premier League status.