Maintaining their impressive late-season form, the Red Devils faced a Nottingham Forest side that had already secured their Premier League status but was still reeling from their Europa League semi-final exit against Aston Villa (1-0, 0-4). Manchester United quickly asserted control, largely thanks to Luke Shaw’s early strike.
The England international, with 34 caps to his name, found the back of the net for the first time in almost three years, unleashing a magnificent low half-volley from the edge of the box in just the 4th minute. Under the guidance of Michael Carrick, United dominated proceedings, creating numerous chances. However, despite several clear-cut opportunities for Bryan Mbeumo, they were unable to extend their lead before halftime.
Against the run of play, Nottingham managed to pull level shortly after the restart. From a cleverly worked short corner, Morato capitalized on some slack marking to head home an equalizer in the 53rd minute. Yet, Manchester United responded almost instantly with a highly contentious play. Following a prolonged VAR review that ultimately saw Bryan Mbeumo’s apparent handball in the box go unpunished, Cunha swiftly restored the lead for the Mancunian side in the 55th minute.
Fernandes matches premier league assist record
Despite his earlier struggles with finishing, the persistent Mbeumo finally got his reward in the 76th minute, converting a powerful cross from Bruno Fernandes right in front of goal. This marked the Portuguese maestro’s 20th assist of the season, a remarkable feat that sees him draw level with the Premier League’s all-time record holders, Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Nottingham kept the match alive and thrilling, with Gibbs-White scoring just two minutes later (78th minute), but United successfully defended their narrow lead until the final whistle, concluding a truly vibrant encounter.
Bruno Fernandes now has one final match to potentially surpass the single-season assist record, as the Mancunians travel to face Brighton next Sunday at 5 PM. Meanwhile, Nottingham will aim for a home victory against Bournemouth, a team still battling for a Champions League qualification spot.