Manchester United v Nottingham Forest result - Bruno Fernandes levels assist record as United seal third place

Michael Carrick’s side ran out 3-2 winners against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, whilst Bruno Fernandes provided his record-equalling 20th assist of the Premier League campaign.

United got off to a flyer at Old Trafford, with unlikely scorer Luke Shaw netting after just five minutes. The ball was hooked into the box by Fernandes and Neco Williams’ clearance went only as far as Shaw, who took a touch to bring the ball down before drilling his effort home into the bottom corner. It was a goal that ended the full back’s run of 73 consecutive Premier League matches without one.

Both sides had a huge chance to score just seconds apart midway through the first half, with Morgan Gibbs-White seeing his effort from close range saved by Senne Lammens before United broke forward on the break with Matheus Cunha, who slipped in Bryan Mbeumo who could only rattle the post after taking the ball around goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Michael Carrick’s side squandered a golden opportunity to double their advantage just 70 seconds into the second half when Amad Diallo cut the ball back to Bryan Mbeumo on the edge of the six-yard box, but the forward lost his composure at the crucial moment, blasting his effort well over the crossbar.

Manchester United were made to pay for their previous missed chances in the 53rd minute when Brazilian defender Morato was on hand to net his first Premier League goal, getting his head on the end of a sensational cross from Elliot Anderson.

Forest weren’t level for long though. Just two minutes later, United regained the lead under hugely controversial circumstances. Mbeumo brought the ball under control with the use of his arm before it eventually found its way to Cunha, who fired his effort past Sels to make it 2-1. The VAR team, sure in their decision that there was a handball in the build up, recommended a VAR review to Michael Salisbury, but the referee stuck with his original decision, maintaining that the handball was accidental, much to the fury of the Nottingham Forest players, staff and supporters.

United made it 3-1 with less than 15 minutes to go, with Fernandes firing a ball across the face of goal for Mbeumo to tap home from close range. It was the Portuguese international’s 20th Premier League assist of the season, drawing him level with Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne for most assists in a single campaign in the competition.

Forest once again struck back, this time it was Gibbs-White who got on the end of an Anderson pass, opening his body up well to fire home, making it 3-2 and scoring what was the 1,000th goal of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

Diogo Dalot went inches from scoring United’s fourth and crucially, what would have been Fernandes’ 21st and record-breaking assist in stoppage time, but saw his effort cannon off the post.

It is a victory which extends Manchester United's unbeaten run to five and means they are certain to finish in third place in the Premier League table.

Manchester United have clinched third place in the Premier League after a thrilling 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

That would have been the record-breaking 21st assist for Bruno Fernandes! Diogo Dalot takes the ball off the toes of Fernandes before rifling an effort onto the post!

The ball falls to Mason Mount outside the penalty area and the United number seven fires an effort just wide of the post.

This has the feel of a basketball game now. Both sides are finding space to get forward and looking to get as many bodies in attack as they can. Forest can smell there is still one big chance left in this one for them.

There will be a minimum of eight minutes added on at the end of this one.

Jair Cunha and James McAtee are on for Luca Netz and Igor Jesus.

We are in for a very watchable last 10 minutes of action here at Old Trafford. Both sides are getting forward at will and with the game at 3-2, the next goal could be absolutely crucial.

Johsua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount are on for Bryan Mbeumo, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha.

Forest have pulled one back! Elliot Anderson, with his second assist of the match, he fires a ball into Gibbs-White, who opens his body out to fire home first time.

Bruno Fernandes has got his 20th Premier League assist of the season! He is being mobbed even more than the goalscorer Mbeumo is! The Portuguese midfielder sends in a cross from the right-hand side where Mbeumo was waiting to poke home from close range.

This is what the PL match centre had to say regarding Man United's controversial second goal.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Ibrahim Sangare and Dilane Bakwa are on for Chris Wood, Omari Hutchinson and Nicolas Dominguez.

Bruno Fernandes plays the ball out to Cunha on the left, but the Brazilian's effort is deflected behind by Williams for a corner.

Bruno Fernandes slides a great pass into Bryan Mbeumo who just had the goalkeeper to beat but the forward blazes his effort over the bar. Fernandes beats the floor in frustration as that was a golden chance for him to hit the assist record!

Well, after all that, the referee has overruled VAR and stuck with his original decision of a goal, deeming Bryan Mbeumo's handball in the build up to Matheus Cunha's goal to have been accidental. That is a very controversial decision and one that will be much debated in the hours and days to come.

The referee is going to the monitor. This one is going to be chalked off you would think.

Matheus Cunha has netted just seconds after Nottingham Forest equalised, but the celebrations are very muted. Forest instantly appealed for handball and it looks as though the United players aren't too sure either if this one will stand . We'll have to see if this one counts.

Forest are level and it's Morato with his first Premier League goal for Nottingham Forest! Elliot Anderson sends in a sensational cross from the right-hand side and Morato is on hand to nod home past Lammens.