There was something almost suspiciously pleasant about it all: clear skies, a soft final-day pace, and Brighton leaving the door open as though European football were no great concern. United took the invitation without fuss. The ball kept travelling to the right places, the game never quite caught fire, and that was probably the point. Not every win needs to be dramatic to mean something.

Fernandes ended where he usually does, at the centre of what matters. The assist carried its own bit of history, the goal carried a little more force, and both came from the same old truth that still irritates people for reasons best known to themselves: he sees the game quicker than most. The other goal in the match was the more interesting one, though, all short movements and clean combinations in crowded space, is this the sort of pattern that hints at what this side is trying to become?

🔗 Follow us:

Twitter - https://x.com/redarmyreaction

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/redarmyreaction

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sun at Old Trafford does half the work on a day like this. The place was in the mood to forgive a few loose touches, indulge a bit of selfish play and enjoy a game that didn’t carry much jeopardy but still managed to be properly watchable. Forest played their part, especially through Anderson, who auditioned well for a role in a Manchester production soon, even if it is in the wrong colours.

United had the better footballer on the pitch and, as usual this season, they made it count. Bruno kept threading passes into places that should have led him to more than one assist, Shaw popped up with a finish far tidier than anyone expects from a left-back, and Mbeumo kept missing until he didn’t, which is often the difference between a poor afternoon and a decent one for a centre-forward. The handball will get the noise, but the stronger feeling was something quieter: a last home game with a bit of light in it.

🔗 Follow us:

Twitter - https://x.com/redarmyreaction

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/redarmyreaction

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weeks ago, Sunderland could have represented a crucial match in the run-in: a tough place to go, needing a result, against an opponent still fighting for every place they could get. That is not how it transpired. Both Sunderland and United concluded, probably correctly, that this game could not matter less, and both teams played accordingly.

We decided to take this rare opportunity not to talk about the game at all. Instead, we took stock of a squad that has demonstrated it is held together by one or two individuals and, without them, looks a much less capable outfit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.