Rio Ferdinand has slammed three players for their roles in the early goal which saw them away to . Anthony Elanga's stunning solo effort in the fifth minute was enough to give Forest all three points and boost their hopes of qualifying for the .

United, meanwhile, remain rooted to 13th place in the table and are starring at their first bottom-half finish in 35 years. Elanga, a product of United's academy , picked up the ball from inside his own half before running 85 metres in nine seconds and slotting past .

Despite the Swedish forward's brilliance, Ferdinand pointed the finger at three Red Devils players who could've stopped him. The ex-United defender, speaking at half-time on , criticised Patrick Dorgu, , and Noussair Mazraoui.

"I can break this goal down," Ferdinand began. "I think there's three moments where they could have maybe stopped this goal. I think, first of all, it's a wonderful goal from Elanga, and you can't take anything away from him in that sense.

"But when you're looking for a defensive point of view, Elanga on the edge of the box there. Dorgu's got to be goal-side. You've got to think defensively first. You know the threat is pace. Be in a better position to stop that. Then he's behind, he's chasing, can't get back.

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"And Garnacho has a role to play here. You should take him out, foul him there. You've got to foul him there. Take him out. You can see the pace; you can see the support he has.

"And Mazraoui's got to make a decision. Before he gets into that box, you've got to go and engage the attacking player there. Go into the box, get closer to goal. Elanga dispatches."

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Elanga said of his magnificent goal when speaking to TNT post-match: "It's just about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. That's where you hurt opposition.

"I just saw the space and I believe that I'm one of the fastest players in the league, so if I am gonna back that I'm gonna have to show it on the pitch and that's what I did for my goal."

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