Bruno Fernandes has tied the Premier League assist record, registering his 20th of the season as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2.
Goals from Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were enough to pick up all three points and guarantee a third-place finish for United.
Elliot Anderson joined the assist train for Forest, creating both Morato and Morgan Gibbs-White’s goals.
But United saw out the contest, picking up their fourth win in their last five games.
Bruno Fernandes has tied the Premier League assist record
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REUTERS
In Casemiro’s farewell game, Shaw got the scoring underway with a stunning strike just five minutes in.
The Englishman picked up the ball just inside the penalty area, taking it down superbly and fizzing a gorgeous shot past Matz Sels, who stood no chance.
Not long after, Omari Hutchinson played a beautiful through ball to Gibbs-White, who had the whole of the goal to aim at, but was denied by a fantastic save from Senne Lammens.
United countered immediately, as Cunha rolled a lovely pass into Mbeumo, who took it round Sels but fired his close-range effort against the wrong side of the post.
Casemiro received a wonderful send-off from the United faithful
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REUTERS
Casemiro then followed up on the rebound but dragged his shot wide.
A good chance for Nicolas Dominguez came 13 minutes from half-time as the Argentine pulled free inside the penalty area but saw his header go over Lammens’ bar.
United started the better out of the two in the second half as Amad Diallo cut a delicate ball back to Mbeumo, who got his strike wrong, blasting over.
Despite the pressure, Forest pulled themselves level after a fantastic delivery by Anderson to centre-half Morato, who headed home from close range to get his first goal for The Tricky Trees.
The victory means United are guaranteed to finish third
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REUTERS
Straight up the other end, Cunha pulled United back in front after a lengthy VAR check, which initially looked like the Brazilian’s tidy finish was going to be chalked off.
Mbuemo appeared to have controlled the ball with the inside of his forearm, with the VAR team advising referee Michael Salisbury to the screen.
But the referee held his nerve and stuck with his on-field decision, to the welcome surprise of the home fans at Old Trafford.
Amad went close next, fizzing in a low strike that was well saved by Sels as United started to dominate.
Anderson was a standout performer for Forest at Old Trafford
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REUTERS
The constant pressure finally turned into a third goal, with Bruno Fernandes getting his historic 20th assist for Mbeumo to finish from close range, as the Portuguese ties Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s record for the most assists in the Premier League.
The celebrations were short-lived though, as Anderson whipped in a delivery to Gibbs-White, who finished first-time past Lammens into the bottom left corner.
Casemiro received a wonderful send-off when he was subbed off with nine minutes of normal time to play, as the Brazilian said goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful.
Diogo Dalot nearly got Bruno Fernandes his 21st assist of the Premier League season, but smashed the post.
Joshua Zirkzee was next to try to make history for the Portuguese, but his effort was saved by Sels.
United saw out the eight minutes of stoppage time to pick up all three points in the sunshine.
It is another fantastic win for Michael Carrick, who is expected to be announced as the club’s new manager after reaching an agreement to sign an initial two-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months.
