Bruno Fernandes equals assist record as Man United edge out Nottingham Forest

Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League assist record for a single season as Manchester United wrapped up third spot with Sunday’s entertaining 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest.

The 31-year-old has sparkled since turning down overtures from Saudi Arabia last summer, helping the Red Devils return to the Champions League and winning the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in the process.

Fernandes capped a wonderful campaign by setting up Bryan Mbeumo in Sunday’s five-goal thriller as he equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single campaign shared by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

20 Premier League assists. pic.twitter.com/XoVDtWVtti

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 17, 2026

It was a memorable final home game of the season for United, who celebrated the news Michael Carrick would be staying on as head coach and Casemiro’s career in his final Old Trafford appearance.

The Red Devils made a dream start when Luke Shaw scored his first goal since January 2023, only for Morato to head home a cross from summer target Elliot Anderson early in the second half.

United pulled back head immediately, but Forest fumed after referee Michael Salisbury deemed an Mbeumo handball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s goal to be accidental after being sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR.

Their mood would darken when Mbeumo turned in Fernandes’ record-equalling cross, with captain Morgan Gibbs-White pulling one back superbly as Vitor Pereira’s side pushed until the death.

Carrick addressed the crowd after a pulsating match that began with United taking a fifth-minute lead through an unlikely source.

Forest failed to clear their lines and Shaw picked up a half-cleared cross before sending a