United will face Liverpool at Old Trafford in the quarter-final next month, with Ten Hag hopeful that Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund return from injury for such a potentially pivotal match in their season.
This was a scrappy, mediocre affair, yet Ten Hag does appear to have a propensity to pick up positive results when he most needs them.
The FA Cup represents United’s only hope of lifting a trophy this season, however improbable that may be after such a wildly unpredictable campaign.
“There are many good teams in the Premier League and Liverpool are top so it is a great challenge,” said Ten Hag. “We are really looking forward because it’s a great game, but first we must look to Sunday [away at Manchester City].
“We want to win every competition so every game is big. The fans deserve a team that is fighting and shows passion and desire.
“We lost one time in 2024. We are consistent. It’s not so easy when you have the whole backline [injured] and we have to shuffle and play players in different positions. I’m very proud we did it.”
The last time these two clubs met in the FA Cup is a moment entrenched in United’s history. In January 1990, Ferguson was fighting to save his job after an alarming run of results which led to the infamous banner “3 years of excuses and it’s still c—. Ta Ra Fergie”.
It proved a pivotal moment in Ferguson’s tenure, with Mark Robins stooping to head the winner and save his manager, initiating the magic-carpet ride of memories that would follow.
This result was nowhere near as seismic for Ten Hag, but these are uncertain times with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ambitious rebuild already under way.
Recruitment remains a major focus for the new owners, and United’s lack of strength in depth was again glaringly evident here. With Luke Shaw injured, Sofyan Amrabat was United’s left-back.
There was also another underwhelming performance from Antony, in his first start since the FA Cup tie at Newport County in January.
The £82 million signing was removed after 72 minutes and clearly unhappy at his substitution, with chants of “what a waste of money” echoing around the ground as he walked to the dug-out. It just seems as if his United career will never take off, despite Ten Hag appearing to retain the faith.
Marcus Rashford was also a peripheral figure, with little support up front. Alan Shearer, watching on as a TV pundit for the BBC, criticised his body language.
There were decent performances from goalkeeper Andre Onana and Casemiro, however, while Ten Hag paid special attention to Bruno Fernandes for playing through the pain barrier.
It was Fernandes’ wickedly in-swerving free kick from the left a minute from time which presented Casemiro with the chance to steal the game. With Forest midfielder Danilo appearing to slip, Casemiro nudged in front and headed the ball past Matt Turner at the near post.
The goal went before a VAR check for offside but, after a lengthy delay, the cheers from the travelling supporters continued long after the final whistle.
