The Brighton fans jeered Bruno Fernandes as he walked over to take a corner at the Amex Stadium, as opposition fans usually do. The man who is loved by Manchester United supporters, and the man their rivals love to hate.
Fernandes has seen and heard it all before. We were just past the half-hour mark in the sunshine on the South Coast, and the United captain teed the ball up and then delivered it expertly into the penalty box where it found Patrick Dorgu who powered a header into the net off the underside of the bar.
And that was that. Fernandes became the all-time Premier League record holder for assists in a single season, moving ahead of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on 21.
He had emulated the Arsenal and Manchester City legends with No 20 against Nottingham Forest last weekend, but now the record is his alone. Another accolade at the end of a season in which he has been voted FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.
The United players crowded around their captain to congratulate him, and now it was the turn of the away fans to make themselves heard at the other end of the Amex as they paid tribute to their ‘Portuguese magnifico’.
Bruno Fernandes (left) teed up Patrick Dorgu (right) to break the Premier League asissts record
Dorgu headed in on the final day at Brighton from Fernandes’ whipped in corner from the right
There was still plenty of time for Fernandes to crown a fantastic season with a ninth goal of the campaign, after Bryan Mbeumo had scored United’s second just before half-time, as Michael Carrick celebrated his first game in charge since being confirmed as United head coach on a permanent basis.
The turnaround under Carrick since January has been quite remarkable, and here was further evidence of it. Let’s not forget that Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for United in recent seasons, winning six of the last eight league meetings between the two clubs and knocking them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford in January in what was the last game before Carrick took over.
This was also a Brighton side that started the day in seventh place and in contention to qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference depending on results. As it turned out, they snuck into the Conference ahead of Brentford on goal difference so at least their supporters were able to celebrate securing a second European campaign in the club’s history despite losing heavily at home on the final day.
Both managers made three changes from last weekend as Carrick gave Dorgu his first start since January in place of Matheus Cunha, chose Mason Mount to fill Casemiro’s shoes and put Noussair Mazraoui in for Diogo Dalot.
Fabian Hurzeler recalled Mats Wiefer, Diego Gomez and James Milner, the latter making what may prove to be his last appearance at the age of 40.
For most of a first half played in bright sunshine, Brighton looked like the team with more to play for as they chased a place in Europe. The closest they came, however, was in the 20th minute when Maxim De Cuyper received the ball on the left and cut inside before flashing an effort narrowly wide of Senne Lammens’ left-hand post.
United appeared a little lethargic and Carrick took advantage of a water break midway through the half to urge his players to raise their game. They responded with two goals in the space of 10 minutes.
Fernandes scored with a ninth goal of the campaign to cap his outstanding season
Opta Analyst’s graphic shows the make-up of Fernandes’ record-breaking 21 league assists
The first saw Fernandes claim the assist record outright as he crossed for Dorgu to head in. The second really was a thing of beauty as United cut through Brighton to take charge of this game.
Mazraoui passed to Amad Diallo in the box and the Ivorian played a quick one-two with Mount before squaring to Bryan Mbeumo who had the simple task of tapping the ball over the line.
Having got that all-important assist, Fernandes added a goal three minutes into the second half – his first since United were last on the South Coast at Bournemouth in March.
The ball was played out to Diallo on the right and he guided a pass just where Dorgu wanted it, in behind the Brighton defence. The Denmark international got the ball caught under his feet but kept his head and found Fernandes on the overlap who whipped a shot wide of Bart Verbruggen.
A goal and an assist was not a bad contribution at all from Dorgu who made way Shea Lacey just after the hour mark as the youngster made his first senior appearance since he was sent off on his home debut in United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Diallo tested Verbruggen before Gomez missed a great chance to give Brighton some hope as he dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box. It was his last contribution before he was replaced by Solly March in a triple substitution that also saw Carlos Baleba come on for Milner and Charalampos Kostoulas for Danny Welbeck whose 400th Premier League appearance was a quiet one against his old, having previously scored eight times against United in all competitions.
There was an end-of-season feel to it for United, and Carrick was able to send on Tyrell Malacia for his farewell appearance and Joshua Zirzkee for what may prove to be his.
It was in danger of falling flat for Brighton but news of Brentford’s draw at Anfield at least meant they were able to share the party mood.
