Fernandes equals assist record as Man Utd edge Forest thriller

AFP | Manchester

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Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a season as Manchester United secured third place with a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest yesterday.

Fernandes moved alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in the single-season assist list when his cross was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third goal at Old Trafford.

Mbeumo was also involved for the game’s most controversial moment when his handball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s strike went unpunished despite a VAR review.

Luke Shaw volleyed United in front after just five minutes, but Forest did level seven minutes into the second half when Elliot Anderson’s cross was headed in by Morato.

United raced down the other end and Cunha swept home after the ball rebounded off Mbeumo’s thigh onto his arm.

Fernandes’ record-equalling moment arrived 14 minutes from full-time when Mbeumo prodded in his drilled cross for his first goal since February.

Morgan Gibbs-White reduced the deficit in the 78th minute.

But United held on to add another victory to their impressive run since interim boss Michael Carrick arrived in January to replace the sacked Ruben Amorim.

Carrick is expected to sign a two-year contract to remain in charge on a permanent basis.

“Over the coming days there’ll be clarity in the situation,” the former United midfielder said of his future.

European dreams

Elsewhere, Leeds midfielder Anton Stach’s World Cup hopes are in jeopardy after the German was stretchered off in the 1-0 victory against Brighton.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored Leeds’ winner in stoppage-time at Elland Road to damage seventh-placed Brighton’s hopes of European qualification.

Brentford, in eighth place, also suffered a blow to their European ambitions in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

Ismaila Sarr’s sixth-minute penalty put Palace ahead before Dango Ouattara hauled Brentford level in the 40th minute.

Adam Wharton restored Palace’s advantage with his first goal for the club in the 52nd minute, but Ouattara struck again in the 88th minute.

Sunderland are in contention for European qualification after a 3-1 win at Everton that dented the hosts’ own ambitions of making it into continental competition.

Merlin Rohl cast a spell on the Sunderland defence with his deflected 43rd-minute opener.

But Brian Brobbey equalised in the 59th minute and Enzo Le Fee put ninth-placed Sunderland ahead in the 81st minute before Wilson Isidor wrapped up the points in stoppage-time.

Fulham’s dreams of Europe were hampered by a 1-1 draw at relegated Wolves.

Wolves took the lead through Mateus Mane’s 25th-minute blast, with Antonee Robinson equalising with a penalty in first-half stoppage-time.