Manchester United began life under permanent manager Michael Carrick with a convincing victory over Brighton, with Bruno Fernandes setting a Premier League record for assists in a single season. Fernandes provided his 21st assist of the campaign for Patrick Dorgu's opener, a record-breaking moment in the first game of Carrick's reign.
Despite the defeat, Brighton secured European football for a second consecutive season, qualifying for the Conference League thanks to results elsewhere. An anxious afternoon for the Sussex side ended in celebration as news filtered through that Brentford had lost at Liverpool and Chelsea had been defeated, ensuring their place in Europe.
'It was the worst time for this performance from us but we have to look at it overall in what we achieved,' said Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler. 'We are Brighton, we are in Europe for a second time, we should be celebrating that achievement.' Carrick praised his side's improvement, adding: 'It's not ended here, we want to keep building.'
The match saw goals from Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo in the first half, with Fernandes adding a third after the break, initially ruled offside but confirmed by VAR. Brighton, who dropped James Milner for Carlos Baleba, could not respond. The result confirmed Brighton's downgrade from Europa League to Conference League.
United fielded young talents Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher in cameo roles, with Carrick emphasising the club's commitment to youth. The victory capped a season that saw United secure Champions League football and marked a stable end to a turbulent period post-Ferguson.
