Nuno Espirito Santo lavished praise on Nottingham Forest's ability to "suffer" in their narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United.

Forest took another huge step towards a top-four finish in the Premier League, as Anthony Elanga's counter-attacking goal just five minutes in proved decisive at the City Ground.

The win left Nuno's side third in the table, eight points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea and nine ahead of Manchester City, before the pair play later in the midweek action.

United accumulated 1.66 expected goals to Forest's 0.54, though, and Nuno pinpointed his side's belief as a key factor in their victory.

"Suffer, hard work, believe, helping each other, [Murillo's late] clearance on the line. It was a very hard game for us." Nuno told TNT Sports.

United had 24 shots against Forest, their most in a Premier League game in which they failed to score since September 2021 against Aston Villa (28).

Makeshift striker Harry Maguire missed two glorious chances late on; first, directing Patrick Dorgu's cross wide, before seeing Murillo deny his last-gasp effort on the line.

That profligate showing saw Forest complete their first league double over Man Utd since 1991-92 under Brian Clough.

"The records, the boys are breaking all of them and, today, the City Ground was part of the game," Nuno added. "We were against the ropes, and the City Ground helped us."

Forest's success has been built on a solid backline and the rapid pace of the likes of Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, the latter of whom is injured, on the counter-attack.

That was how their winning goal arrived as Elanga burst from deep inside his own half, before firing into the bottom-right corner after reaching the perimeter of United's box.

At the other end, Forest kept their 13th clean sheet in the Premier League this season, more than any other side, and their joint-most ever in a campaign in the competition (also 13 in 1994-95).

Ryan Yates pinpointed Elanga's abilities on the break, as well as their never-say-die attitude, after holding on, despite playing 120 minutes in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton on penalties.

"[Elanga] is a dream for a midfielder. Especially us sitting in that low-block; you can give him the ball, and he does the rest," the Forest captain told TNT Sports, before praising his whole side.

"It is unbelievable after 120 minutes the other day. The determination and fans were incredible, [we are] buzzing to keep the run going.

"We're having a great season. The past two seasons were about staying up, keeping our head above water, and we have got that momentum at the minute."

Forest have earned 57 points this season, their second-highest ever total from their opening 30 games of a top-flight campaign, assuming three points for a win across an all-time period. 

Only in their only title-winning campaign in 1977-78 (67) have they ever amassed more at this stage, though Yates is not getting ahead of himself as the Tricky Trees eye Champions League qualification.

"I don't want to say as football is so cruel," he added. "We have got the cup to focus on, and we have got the league.

"We are at Villa Park on Saturday, and they're flying. We take each game as it comes."