It may sound like a proper ‘glory, glory Man United’ moment – an 89th-minute winner to settle a tense FA Cup tie. But the decisive goal from Casemiro had an element of bizarre fluke, after another horribly flat performance from Erik ten Hag’s side. Casemiro headed the winner from close range. The ball squirmed past Matt Turner at his near post. Casemiro celebrated passionately following his decisive strike. Casemiro was made to wait due to a VAR check before the winner was confirmed. Man Utd shaded the momentum of the game.

A free-kick from Bruno Fernandes curled in by the left-hand touchline bounced in front of the goal. Casemiro added the slightest of touches with his head, and after a lengthy VAR check for offside, Man Utd were limping into the quarter-finals. At least they avoided the potential nightmare scenario of a second defeat at the City Ground in the space of two months and confirmation of a trophyless season. But the bold ambitions of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, to “knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch,” looked light years away here.

Sir Dave Brailsford, Ratcliffe’s sporting director, was here on the eve of his 60th birthday on Thursday, when he turns 60 – and if that sounds confusing, look at the date. Brailsford is said to be preparing a summer clear-out of United’s staff, and this was another performance which suggested a deadwood sale is on the horizon. United were poor, their own salvation being that Forest were poorer still.

There was a proper Cup-tie atmosphere at this famous old stadium, but this was no old-school knockout match – in the second half, there was more chance of falling asleep than being gripped by Cup fever.

After the debacle of Saturday’s home defeat by Fulham – which ended a five-match winning streak – ten Hag opted for experience by benching the teenage duo Kobe Mainoo and Omar Forsong, while Harry Maguire missed out through injury. Casemiro was the match winner for Man Utd at Forest on Wednesday evening.