Dalot repeats mistake, Man Utd draw 2-2 at Forest's City Ground
A slow reaction in the 54th minute led to Nicolo Savona's goal and a substitution in the 68th minute, Diogo Dalot was again under pressure from the public. Ruben Amorim was pushed to the brink of making a decision, when Patrick Dorgu was called upon by the fans to be given a chance.
In the 54th minute at the City Ground, Diogo Dalot reacted slowly to a second ball before Nicolo Savona scored to give Nottingham Forest a 2-1 lead. In the 68th minute, the Portuguese defender was withdrawn by coach Ruben Amorim. The match ended 2-2, but Dalot became the center of controversy for repeating a familiar mistake.
Faith tested: decision to keep Dalot on left wing
One of Ruben Amorim’s more controversial decisions in recent weeks has been to continue using Dalot at left-back, despite his inconsistent form. After the 3-1 defeat to Brentford, many suggested that Dalot would be dropped from the starting line-up in favour of Patrick Dorgu, but Amorim went against the odds and kept him in the starting XI.
That patience reached its limit when Dalot continued to make a big mistake in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, directly appearing in the play that caused Man Utd to fall 1-2 behind.
The pivotal moment in the 54th minute
In the build-up to Nicolo Savona’s goal, Dalot reacted slowly and did not take the initiative to handle the second ball. This was not the first time: against Brentford, he was criticized for “watching the ball” instead of cutting in.
Veteran defender Danny Simpson commented on MUTV:“A defender has to always sense danger. You have to think about the worst-case scenario and be ready to deal with it. Dalot didn’t do that.”
The lack of decisiveness and slowness in similar situations made Man Utd's defense many times fall into a passive position before the opponent's reaction speed.
Pressure from the stands: a call for Patrick Dorgu
After the match, social media was flooded with comments criticizing Dalot for his basic mistakes. Many fans asked Ruben Amorim to “give his trust to someone else”, specifically Patrick Dorgu – a young player who had impressed in the pre-season.
Dorgu provided an assist in the win over Chelsea at the end of September, but has since been benched for four games in a row. Man Utd’s recent four-game unbeaten run has come with Dalot still on the pitch, further fuelling the debate over the left-back position.
Tactical angle: danger recognition and second ball
Dalot’s obvious weakness in the last two matches has been his slowness in recognizing the danger and reacting to the second ball situation. When the full-back fails to read the worst situation, the space behind him immediately opens up, forcing the center-back and midfield to shrink, distorting the defensive structure and allowing the opponent to get on the front foot.
At the City Ground, the error occurred at a sensitive time, changing the game and forcing Man Utd into a chase. Amorim's repeated warnings from the sidelines but still having to be substituted in the 68th minute showed that the disciplinary message was clearly sent.
The problem for Amorim: stabilize the defense to compete for the top 4
Man Utd are entering a crucial period and manager Ruben Amorim knows that individual mistakes cannot be repeated if the goal of competing for the top 4 of the Premier League is to be serious. Patrick Dorgu is waiting for his chance to prove himself, and with Dalot's current form, the change could come as early as the next match.
Dalot still has time to make amends, but the signs from the 2-2 draw at the City Ground were that he must immediately improve his reading of situations and his reaction in the box – the small details that can decide results at Premier League level.