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FROM LEFT: Manchester United’s Bryan Mbuemo, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha in action during the English Premier League match against Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Fernandes equals Premier League assist record in Man Utd win, West Ham on brink of relegation Portuguese Magnifico

B RUNO FERNANDES equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a sea son as Manchester United secured third place with a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. 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. “Obviously I’m very proud,” Fernandes said on the Old Trafford touchline. “We’re speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and for me I’m very grateful and I’m very happy to do it. It’s a very proud moment.” Fernandes, named as United’s player of the year for a record-break ing fifth time, now has the chance to reach 21 assists in Sunday’s season finale at Brighton. “Let’s see,” he said. “It doesn’t change the way I play my game, so I will still have to create things for my team, and hopefully it can happen. “But if it doesn’t happen, I’m already very happy because I’ve never done 20 assists in the Premier League. I’ve never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy.” Mbeumo was also involved for the game’s most controversial moment when his handball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s strike went unpun

Amorim.

ished despite a VAR review. Luke Shaw volleyed United in front after just five minutes, but Forest did level seven minutes into the sec ond 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. “I want collective awards more than anything,” said Fernandes. “But knowing that your job is being recog nised by many people, a lot of players came out and said I was player of the season, for that I am very grateful. “I got to 20 today. We have one more game. The manager decides who will play the next game. I will be very happy to do it. But if I don’t, I am already happy because it is the most assists I have got in the Premier League.” Morgan Gibbs-White

were well beaten at St. James’ Park against a Newcastle side who had little to play for. West Ham’s only hope of survival is if they beat Leeds on the final day and Tottenham lose to both Chelsea and Everton. Nuno admitted: “They showed their frustration and with reason when they see a team that doesn’t make them proud. It’s right, it’s right and today we didn’t make ourselves or them proud. “Our final match of the season against Leeds is going to be in London Stadium and we owe it to our fans to show a better performance.” Elsewhere, Leeds midfielder Anton Stach’s World Cup hopes are in jeop ardy 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 suf fered a blow to their European ambi tions in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. Sunderland are in contention for European qualification after a 3-1 win at Everton that dented the hosts’ own ambitions of making it into continen tal competition. Fulham’s dreams of Europe were hampered by a 1-1 draw at relegated Wolves. – AFP/Reuters/ The Independent

The former mid fielder is expected to sign a two-year deal to remain in charge at Old Trafford in the coming days. “Over the coming days there’ll be clarity in the situation,” the former United midfielder said of his future. Carrick in an end-of

season address to the United fans, said: “We’ve had some big, big moments, big goals and big results in this place over the last few months. Hopefully there’ll be a few more of them.” West Ham United’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle left Tottenham realisti cally only needing one more point to win the battle for Premier League survival. Spurs can avoid dropping out of the English top flight for the first time in nearly 50 years with victory at Chelsea tomorrow (3.15am Malaysian time), but a draw would also likely suf fice thanks to their much superior goal difference over West Ham. “Overall bad performance. Too many things (went wrong), I think we gifted them the goals,” said West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “We realise the situation is extremely difficult for us.” A third consecutive defeat left the Hammers needing favours and they

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

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