Man United secure top three finish after thrilling win against Nottingham Forest

After confirming UEFA Champions League involvement the occasion centred mostly on marking Casemiro final match at Old Trafford.

The Brazilian stayed on the bench during the hosts rapid opening yet the lead arrived inside the opening minutes after the visitors defence only partially repelled Bruno Fernandes delivery. Luke Shaw settled with a single touch then struck a half volley into the bottom corner for his opening goal since January 2023 and United quickest home strike in the Premier League for two years.

Morgan Gibbs White should have restored parity for Forest partway through the opening period after being sent clear by a home error yet a superb stop from Senne Lammens kept the score unchanged.

That chance almost proved decisive as United surged forward and struck the frame when Bryan Mbeumo rounded Matz Sels only to see his shot hit the post before Casemiro sent a follow up volley just wide.

Most notable action in the first half occurred during that brief spell with a blocked Lisandro Martinez effort representing the next closest attempt yet the interval advantage left United with an exceptional unbeaten record when ahead at half time in league fixtures now standing at 399 matches before this encounter which looked set to deliver the point required for third position.

That record faced pressure inside ten minutes of the restart when a short corner routine finished with Elliot Anderson supplying an ideal ball for Morato to head home his debut goal for Forest.

United responded immediately from the restart as Matheus Cunha swept in a loose ball inside the box though controversy followed after Mbeumo appeared to handle before his blocked effort fell kindly for the Brazilian.

VAR reviewed the incident and following a pitch side check referee Michael Salisbury upheld the original call to the frustration of the visiting side.

While chasing an assist to match the all time Premier League record in one campaign Fernandes dropped to his knees soon afterwards after feeding Mbeumo only for the forward to blaze over the target.

The Portugal captain did not wait long for reward as the pair combined again for the third goal with Fernandes firing across the area for Mbeumo to convert and thereby end an eleven match drought while entering the record books alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne as the sole players to record twenty assists in a single Premier League season.

Forest refused to yield and pulled one back swiftly through a calm finish from Gibbs White after latching onto Anderson pass ensuring a third successive Old Trafford meeting between the sides concluded 3 2 despite late efforts from Diogo Dalot who hit the post in added time and Joshua Zirkzee who tested Sels with a fierce drive.

United impressive recovery under interim management concludes with a third place standing that is expected to secure the head coach position on a permanent basis while Forest defeat carries minimal weight given their top flight status already confirmed.