And with that, Manchester United are back to winning ways. In a week where Michael Carrick edged closer to being given the job on a permanent basis, the Red Devils demonstrated precisely why he's been such a cracking replacement for Ruben Amorim.

They were not amazing at the back; Nottingham Forest cut them open regularly in the second period, but from an attacking point of view, the performance was on point again. Truth be told, they could have scored six or seven here.

As Bruno Fernandes went in search of the Premier League assist record, he added one more to his tally but it could and should have been more. Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all found the net in what resembled something of a basketball game.

Carrick's men won 3-2, but that did not tell the full story.

How Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest

This was not the most complete display since Carrick was given the gig on an interim basis but at this stage of the season, it matters not.

United have completed their goals by reaching the Champions League places and this display typified a final home game of the season.

As they waved farewell to Casemiro, the hosts were a force to be reckoned with in the final third. The Brazilian did not score but he came close in the first half when he prodded an effort just wide of the post.

That was one of a host of chances that they missed (more on that later) but they did find the net three times. Shaw has had to wait three years for a goal but his opener was taken like a seasoned striker. The left-back took the ball down inside the area and then hit a sweetly struck effort low into the corner.

While it took until the second half for any more goals to arrive, Forest did hit back through Morato. Elliot Anderson, reportedly United's top target, swung the ball in for the defender to head home.

Then came the game's controversial moment. Two minutes later, Mbeumo looked to have handled the ball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha's goal. The goal was given on the field but even after VAR intervention and a look at the monitor, the referee stuck with his decision.

There was nothing controversial about Mbeumo's goal. The Cameroon international arrived just in time to fire home Fernandes' cross. It was his 20th assist of a remarkable individual Premier League campaign.

The goals did not stop there; Morgan Gibbs-White found the net a couple of minutes later but despite some late end-to-end drama, United were able to hold on.

That said, Fernandes will no doubt have stern words for some of his teammates.

Fernandes edges closer to the assist record

It has been rather amusing to watch Bruno in the last few weeks. As he goes in search of the assist record, he's looked like a player who has no interest in shooting, let alone scoring. As soon as he gets the ball in and around the area, he's looking to pick out a teammate.

That selfless nature is precisely why he's now reached 20 assists in the Premier League this term. He has drawn level with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry and is now just one away from beating the record for the most assists in a single top-flight campaign since the Premier League was founded.

The Portuguese sensation still has one game left to break said record, but if his teammates had been a bit more clinical on Sunday, then he would have been celebrating his individual accolade this weekend.

Mbeumo was one of the biggest culprits, and while he did grab his goal, he missed one gilt-edged opportunity in the second half after being played in by the United skipper.

The forward was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper but fired high over the bar. Fernandes' reaction was priceless. He fell to the ground in disbelief at what he had seen, pounding the turf in frustration.

That said, Amad was perhaps just as wasteful as Amad. Mbeumo wasted plenty himself but at least he scored. The same cannot be said for the Ivorian, who spurned a great chance himself after being fed by Bruno.

In the 89th minute, the Portuguese midfielder played the ball into him and when he broke down the right, instead of going for goal, the winger played a really limp pass into Joshua Zirkzee and the chance was gone.

Amad was at the centre of plenty of other opportunities and while Fernandes did not supply them all, the regularity with which the £37m signing wasted good attacking situations was alarming.

While Mbeumo and Cunha find the goals, the Ivory Coast international has been abject to say the least. He has not scored in 18 matches for United. His last goal came before AFCON when he netted in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. That means he is yet to find the net at all during the Carrick era.

If Fernandes does ultimately fall one assist short of breaking the record, it's likely he'll be cursing Amad's name.