Scott McTominay was selected to start Manchester United’s FA Cup fifth round match against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night after multiple appearances off the bench.

Ultimately, it was a difficult match for Manchester United, with the home team performing well to exert aggressive pressure on their opponents.

Nonetheless, thanks to an 89th-minute header from Casemiro, United were able to edge off the underdogs, winning 1-0.

While Erik ten Hag’s side struggled for much of the evening, they did get the match started to a strong start, with McTominay playing an important role in the team’s forward buildup.

During the first few minutes, the midfielder was able to convert a dangerous cross from Diogo Dalot. While McTominay was in a good position to score, his header was aimed right at the Forest goalie, who kept the score equal.

Later in the half, McTominay decided it was a good moment to try an overhead kick from a corner. He was proven wrong when his shot went well over the crossbar.

McTominay was heavily involved in United’s offensive, taking five shots, although only two were on target, with the other blocked.

He also shown skill with the ball at his feet, completing two of three dribbling attempts.

McTominay’s passing ability in his holding midfield position was lacking. He completed 35 of 48 attempted passes, resulting in a 73% passing accuracy, while also completing one crucial pass and two of three long balls. The Scottish international didn’t make any crosses.

McTominay demonstrated physical strength both on and off the ball. While he only won three of six ground duels, he was dominant in the air, winning two of three aerial duels, including a header from a corner in the first half that cleared the ball from danger.

While this is an important header, it does little to mask McTominay’s lack of defensive support for United’s back line. He only took one defensive action during the game, a clearance, and was dribbled past once – a bad performance for a holding midfielder.

Ultimately, McTominay put on a strong attacking display, playing an important role in United’s buildup play. Nonetheless, his defensive game and passing performance were subpar.

If there is one thing this performance demonstrated, it is that McTominay is well-suited to the offensive midfield role that Ten Hag has assigned him, as he comes off the bench as an impact sub in the second half. In this evening’s play, however, he was used in his former holding midfield position, one he had previously struggled with.

McTominay’s uneven performance appears to be entirely down to Ten Hag’s decision-making, as the Scot is clearly unsuited to the defensive midfield role. Ten Hag should take note of this, especially with a game against Manchester City coming up this weekend.