Man Utd followers get glimpse into future as Michael Carrick will get large bonus in Brighton win

Manchester United signed off their season in style as Michael Carrick marked his first game since landing the permanent manager job by thrashing Brighton

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Manchester United fans got a glimpse into the future as Michael Carrick’s side put on a show in his first game as the club’s permanent manager.

Sunday’s Premier League finale marked the first game of the permanent Carrick era after the Englishman was rewarded for his brilliant work as interim manager with a two-year contract and the option of a further year. And United fans will certainly be excited for next season following their 3-0 win over Brighton as Bruno Fernandes broke the all-time Premier League assists record in a single season.

Carrick won 11 of his 16 matches in caretaker charge after succeeding the disastrous Ruben Amorim, and succeed in his position he did as United sealed a return to the Champions League next season with three games to spare, while a third-place finish was also soon confirmed.

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United headed to the south coast for their customary away day at Brighton in the sunshine with little to play for, but that’s not what it looked like to the players as United withstood a start to the game that saw Brighton on the front foot as they looked to put themselves in a position to qualify for the Champions League.

Following Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph, sixth place in the Premier League will once again be a Champions League spot (hardly the meaning of ‘champions’ but there’s modern football for you). Brighton needed to win and hope Bournemouth were beaten by Nottingham Forest to finish 6th. But the minor European places were also up for grabs.

However, Brighton were unable to majorly test United and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock as history was made. Fernandes’ corner was whipped onto the head of Patrick Dorgu who powered a header off the underside of the crossbar to give United the lead and his captain his 21st league assist of the season – as Fernandes now stands alone at the top of the feat.

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Dorgu starred for United in Carrick’s first two games in charge against Manchester City and Arsenal, scoring goals in both victories as he showed his class further forward on the left wing having failed to convince as a wing back in Amorim’s system.

But the 21-year-old’s momentum was crushingly halted as he suffered a serious hamstring injury in the Arsenal win and subsequently missed the next three months before returning against Liverpool earlier this month.

The Brighton game was his first start, which he capped with a goal and an assist in his 62 minutes on the pitch before he was replaced by Shea Lacey, who also made his first appearance since January having picked up an injury after becoming a bright spark under Darren Fletcher.

The 19-year-old could join Dorgu in earning more minutes next season, with the Dane’s performance on his first start back showing Carrick he doesn’t need to splash a huge sum on a new left-wing to support Matheus Cunha.

United doubled their lead before half-time when Bryan Mbeumo rounded off a slick passing move to tap into an empty net and leave Brighton with everything to do to secure European football.

Unlike the first half, Fabian Hurzeler’s team talk did not pay any impact as Fernandes added his 30th goal involvement of the season to fire past Bart Verbruggen just two minutes into the second half.

United could have added more as they peppered the home side’s goal before Brighton finally got a grip of the half and the play became less chaotic.

The scoreline allowed Carrick to introduce fellow teenager Tyler Fletcher while Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Tyrell Malacia also made late cameos – the Dutchman for potentially the last time as transfer speculation rumbles the striker could leave Old Trafford in the summer and Malacia’s final United game before he leaves as a free agent.

Carrick could not have wished for a better result and performance while he appeared to be wearing a piece of high-tech equipment in his ear to be fed information during the game.