United’s final home game of the season. Third place already confirmed. Champions League already booked. Old Trafford had something to celebrate before kick-off and got more of it during the 90 minutes.
Shaw in the fifth minute. Cunha restoring the lead after Forest equalised. Mbeumo sealing it in the 75th. Forest pulled one back late but it was not enough. 3-2. United sign off at Old Trafford with three points.
Forest leave still unbeaten in their last eight league games. That is a remarkable run from a side that was fighting relegation not long ago. Losing here does not undo any of it.
Luke Shaw scored in the fifth minute and it did not feel like a surprise. Dalot went down the right and sent a cross into the area. Casemiro put it back across. A defender got a partial clearance. The ball stayed inside the box and Shaw arrived from the left, controlled it and finished. 1-0. Old Trafford up immediately.
Forest were not here to accept a defeat quietly. Lammens saved well from Gibbs-White in the first half — a low effort inside the box that the goalkeeper dealt with sharply. Milenkovic headed across goal from a corner and it went just wide. Forest had moments. They always do under Vitor Pereira. The intensity never drops.
The second half was the story. Four goals. A VAR controversy. A tense finish.
Morato equalised in the 53rd minute. Short corner from Anderson, swung back into the box, the centre-back rose highest and headed it in. Old Trafford silenced temporarily. Forest celebrating in the away section. 1-1.
Then the controversy. Mbeumo drove into the box and his shot was blocked. The ball broke to Cunha who finished. United celebrated. Forest protested immediately — Mbeumo’s arm, they said, had handled it in the build-up. VAR reviewed it. Referee Salisbury walked to the monitor. Came back. Goal stood. 2-1 United.
Forest felt hard done by. The replays were not completely clear. In the end the goal stood and that was that.
Mbeumo settled it in the 75th. Bruno Fernandes threaded a precise through-ball and Mbeumo did the rest. One touch. Finished past Sels. 3-1. The game was over in that moment.
Igor Jesus pulled one back for Forest in the closing minutes. 3-2. The away section made noise. The scoreline flatters neither side — United were the better team, Forest competed until the last second, the VAR decision was the defining moment.
Carrick spoke after the game about the season United have had. Champions League football next year. A squad that improved through the campaign. He talked about the future without committing to anything. The press conference did not last long.
For Forest, eight games unbeaten in the league is extraordinary context for a side that was in a relegation battle. They travel now with nothing to play for on the final day except keeping that run going. Four different managers this season. Survival confirmed. Run of results that would put most clubs in the top six.
Gibbs-White was their best player on Sunday. Igor Jesus as direct as ever. Williams tireless at wing-back. The system Pereira set up worked. The result did not go their way. These things happen.
Old Trafford got its send-off. Shaw scoring early. Cunha and Mbeumo delivering. The stadium finished the season as it needed to.
For more Premier League coverage visit FawaNews football. Full table, results and final day fixtures at the official Premier League website.
Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest Premier League Matchday 37 | Sunday, 17 May 2026 | Old Trafford | Referee: Michael Salisbury
Goals: Luke Shaw 5′ | Matheus Cunha (VAR reviewed, stood) | Bryan Mbeumo 75′ (MAN UTD) | Morato 53′ | Igor Jesus (late) (NFO)
Man United XI: Lammens | Dalot, Martínez, Maguire, Shaw | Casemiro, Mainoo | Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha | Sesko Subs: Amad, Zirkzee, others
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels | Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Netz | Yates, Anderson | Hutchinson | Jesus, Wood Subs: Gibbs-White (with protective mask after head injury)
HT: 1-0 | FT: 3-2 Table: Man United 3rd (68 pts, CL confirmed) | Nottingham Forest — 8 game unbeaten run in PL
