Murillo’s goal-line clearance and the image that defines this Nottingham Forest team

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Even as play continued around the Nottingham Forest players, many of them rushed across to hug Murillo.

Ninety-one minutes after Anthony Elanga had run 85 metres in nine seconds before scoring against his old team, it was the centre-back Murillo who provided the moment and celebration that defines the spirit, unity and determination of this Forest team under Nuno.

In the sixth minute of added time and with Forest desperately protecting their 1-0 lead, there was Murilo on the goalline to sweep away a shot from Manchester United’s makeshift striker Harry Maguire.

Fists clenched, the Brazilian roared at his team-mates after clearing the ball from danger.

The final whistle blew seconds later and prompted another outpouring of emotion and even greater noise. It was telling that it was Murillo’s two partners in the centre of Forest’s defence, Nikola Milenkovic and Morato, who returned to clutch the Brazilian in another firm embrace.

(Michael Steele/Getty Images)

As the collective sigh of relief swiftly transformed into a familiar roar, it was Murillo’s moment that was celebrated every much as Elanga’s remarkable, breathtaking goal, which felt like a very personal message delivered to the club that had sold him for £15million in the summer of 2023.

Forest are going to need this quality and desire in the remaining eight games to secure Champions League football for next season.

Elanga’s goal demonstrated all that is good about the counter-attacking approach that Nuno has instilled in his side. What followed much later was all about the character Nuno’s players have so often shown during their remarkable rise to third in the Premier League.

Murillo, who made his Brazil debut last month, is capable of flair and flamboyance and is unusual in that he is a defender you are excited to watch every time he steps on a football pitch. The 22-year-old is capable of swashbuckling runs that carry him — and the ball — half the length of the pitch. And when the mood takes him he is not shy about having a shot at goal from 30, 40 or even 50 yards.

But he is also fundamentally a very good defender. He made 12 clearances and blocked three shots against United, including the match-winning one in injury time.

Murillo denies Man United an equaliser at the death with a goalline clearance 😳👏

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/3mFpOhJo0F

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2025

It was one of the final actions of the game and definitely among the most significant. And it epitomised many of the traits that have led Forest to this point. Thou shall not pass.

And even Elanga, in his post-match interview with broadcasters TNT, felt the need to reference the incident unprompted.

“I have to mention Murillo’s block. Seeing that from the bench… it means more than a goal. It is another clean sheet for us. Murillo? Fantastic,” he said.

The significance of it was not lost on his manager either, with Nuno agreeing that it summed up the character of his side entirely. “Yes it did. When you do not have energy, you have to have belief. The belief is about asking ‘what can I do to stop the ball going in?’ That was a big example about the dedication and commitment of our players,” he said in his press conference. “It was huge for us, better than a goal.

“In those moments we were against the ropes, it was about heart, belief. I am very, very proud.”

Forest last achieved a league double over United in 1991-92, when the legendary Brian Clough was manager. Now, more than three decades later, we are getting to the point where it would not be a surprise to see Nuno walking on the River Trent, just as Clough famously prophesied that he himself was capable of doing.

It is unlikely anyone will ever match the miracles achieved under Clough, who led Forest to back-to-back European Cup successes, after winning the title following promotion from the second tier.

But this increasingly has the unmistakable feel of being another special era for Forest.

After successive fights against relegation from the top flight, Forest are on 57 points with eight games left to play. Over the last 20 years, the average tally required to secure fifth place — which would almost certainly mean Champions League football this time around — is 63.4.

But while Forest are within touching distance of achieving something remarkable, they will still feel a world away from it at the same time. They were playing in England’s third tier in 2007-08 and only returned to the Premier League after 23 years away in 2022.

With Ola Aina joining Chris Wood on the injury list, Forest do have challenges ahead, not least at Aston Villa on Saturday where, with Alex Moreno unable to play against his parent club, Forest will be decidedly short of full-back options. At least beyond Harry Toffolo and Eric Moreira, who have made five sub appearances between them in the Premier League this season.

But this was a night when Forest suggested they have the personality to clear such hurdles.

Murillo was not alone. Ryan Yates produced an individual performance that underlined all the traits that have seen him play at every level of the game from the fifth tier upwards — and to remain the only player in the squad who was part of the group that won promotion from the Championship in 2022. He blocked as many shots (three) as Murillo, while also making five clearances, most of which felt like they came in time added on as United pushed relentlessly for an equaliser.

Neco Williams played on both sides of the back four, moving across to right-back after Aina suffered what is believed to be a calf problem — and the Wales international flourished equally on both sides.

Milenkovic idolised Nemanja Vidic growing up and continues to prove that he shares many of the qualities of the man whose footsteps he has followed, by becoming captain of the Serbia international side. He is already a key figure for Forest, in the same way that Vidic was for United.

Sels could become the first goalkeeper not to play for a ‘big six’ club to win the golden glove since it began 20 years ago. This was the 13th clean sheet that Forest have kept this season.

It was also one of the most hard earned. But, if Forest can hold on to the level of resolve that was typified by the young man from Sao Paulo in the 96th minute of the game, who knows where this journey will end.

(Photo: TNT)

This news was originally published on this post .

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