When Erik ten Hag was making a case for paying £85million for Antony, he probably did not mention the Brazilian’s ability to bundle one into an empty net from a few yards.
After all, for that sort of dough, it should be a given. But perhaps the scruffy number that set up this routine win will officially kick-start Antony’s Manchester United career - especially as it was twinned with the most sublime of assists for the Diogo Dalot goal that confirmed a bloodless victory.
Antony looks like a player growing in confidence, someone becoming accustomed to the demands of the Premier League. Not that he has ever seemed desperately short of confidence, as his penchant for trying the same thing over and over again demonstrates.
This was Antony’s first goal in 15 Premier League appearances, having had 38 unsuccessful pops at goal during that time. But Ten Hag has great faith in a player he knows well and you suspect Antony will start justifying that faith.
As it happened, despite his goal and assist, he was not the best United player on the park. That Bruno Fernandes does not get the credit his wonderful ability deserves is almost exclusively down to himself.
He is a Grade A moaner, he is sly, he appeared to down tools when United were getting a hiding at Anfield. Away from the confines of his club’s fanbase, he is commonly disliked, which, in a way, is a shame because, as much as many would be loath to admit, he is a world-class footballer.
Anthony Martial took a lot of the credit for United’s opener here, mugging Danilo for possession and then bringing the save out of Keylor Navas that teed up Antony’s sliding finish. But the first-time pass from Fernandes to set Martial free was a simple, perfectly-weighted work of brilliance.
Bar Marcus Rashford, there is no United player more crucial to his side’s fortunes than Fernandes is. He should have doubled United’s first half lead with a header from eight yards but the way he had smuggled himself into that prime position was typical of his game-intelligence.
And it must be slightly frustrating for the man himself and his manager that he has not scored more Premier League goals this season, although it does not help when he comes up against shot-stoppers with the agility of Navas.
The Forest keeper tipped one ferocious Fernandes strike on to the crossbar and shovelled another around a post. Fernandes was the class outfield act in a contest that hardly fizzed with quality.
But as individual moments of class go, Antony’s run and reverse pass to set up that splendid Dalot goal - the defender impressively galloping through home ranks from deep - was right up there.
Alas, moments of Forest class were non-existent. They offered precious little threat, the hapless Taiwo Awoniyi blazing their only decent chance into orbit.
This is a truly rotten run for Forest - three points from a possible 30 - and that is at Steve Copper’s door. For United, this was a win that gives them breathing space in the Premier League and allows them to give their full attention to tasks in Europe and in the FA Cup.
And don’t be surprised if Antony takes centre stage.
