They came to pay homage to Casemiro on his last appearance at Old Trafford, and the Manchester United fans were not disappointed.
The Brazil star walked out with his children to a fantastic reception, and left the pitch after 81 minutes with the adulation of the crowd in his ears and tears in his eyes.
There was to be no celebration of Michael Carrick’s confirmation as United manager, with the fine details of his new two-year contract not quite being finalised in time for it to be made official before kick-off as the club had hoped.
But we were treated to Bruno Fernandes equalling the Premier League assist record, a rare Luke Shaw goal, and a game that showcased much of what Carrick has brought to United since January; one in which Nottingham Forest, and their gifted midfielder Elliot Anderson more than played their part.
Anderson was outstanding with two assists, and so too was his teammate Morgan Gibbs-White. Both have been linked with moves to United this summer, and that’s hardly surprising.
Anderson feels like a stretch, not least because he will cost in excess of £100million and Manchester City would appear to be in pole position to sign him. But if United can add players of their quality, then Carrick’s side will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
Casemiro won’t be here then, and inevitably he was the focus of attention. The Stretford End unveiled a tribute banner before the game showing the Brazilian with his hand touching the club crest over his heart. Ate a morte, it read. Until death.
‘I’m sure there will be emotions to deal with at certain parts of the day, but that’s football and hopefully he’ll have a good day,’ said Carrick beforehand.
‘It’s not a different experience for him in preparing, it’s the same as he always done. He’s always been aware of how long he was going to stay here for, as we have. The way he’s focused and prepared for every game hasn’t changed.’
Casemiro emerged from the Old Trafford tunnel one last time holding hands with his son Caio and daughter Sara.
Most of the United players had their children as mascots and there was a lovely moment before kick-off when they lined up for a team picture in the centre-circle with team captains Fernandes and Gibbs-White and the match officials.
Within five minutes, Old Trafford was enjoying another souvenir moment when Shaw scored his first goal in more than three years.
It began down the right with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo combining for Diogo Dalot to cross. Forest failed to clear their lines and when Neco Williams sent a header looping into his own penalty box, no fewer than five defenders stood watching as Shaw was allowed to bring the ball down and then rifle it with a half volley into the bottom corner.
It was the England defender’s first goal since a 3-0 win over Bournemouth here in January 2023, and only his fifth in 12 years as a United player.
United nearly increased their lead in the 21st minute after Forest had threatened at the other end. Anderson played the ball into Omari Hutchinson who sent Gibbs-White through on goal with an even better pass.
The Forest skipper, wearing a mask to protect the facial injury he sustained against Chelsea at the start of the month, was probably offside but Senne Lammens didn’t know that and came out to block Gibbs-White’s effort with his right knee.
United broke straight upfield and Matheus Cunha slipped the ball through for Bryan Mbeumo who rounded goalkeeper Matz Sels but hit the post from a tight angle, and Casemiro’s unconventional follow-up attempt went inches wide of the same upright.
If Anderson was looking to impress United and others on the big stage, he certainly succeeded. The 23-year-old popped up all over the pitch and was happy to demonstrate his passing rage on what is likely to be his penultimate game for Forest.
After Amad Diallo had header over and Mbeumo blazed over either side of half-time, the England midfielder was the architect of Forest’s equaliser in the 53rd minute.
Hutchinson played a short corner to Anderson who easily shrugged off the challenge of Diallo and curled an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Morato who could hardly miss from a few yards out.
United restored their lead within a matter of minutes but there was more than a tinge of controversy about the goal. Dalot got down the right and pulled the ball back to Mbeumo who clearly appeared to bring it under control with the use of his right arm. Williams blocked his shot and the ball ran to Cunha who calmly sidefooted home.
The handball defence looked more obvious with each replay and VAR official Matthew Donohue sent referee Michael Salisbury to the pitch-side monitor. But he was happy with his original decision and stuck with it on the basis that it was an accidental handball – an excuse that would not have been valid under the rules if Mbeumo had scored the goal himself.
Lammens then rushed out of his goal to deny Gibbs-White again following a mistake by Fernandes who must have thought a share of the Premier league assist record was his when United threatened again in the 64th minute.
The United captain received the ball from Casemiro and played it straight into the path of Mbeumo. As Sels came out of his goal, the Cameroon forward once again belied a lack of confidence by lifting his shot over the bar, and Fernandes collapsed to the turf face first in frustration.
He didn’t have to wait much longer. When Fernandes got down the right in the 76th minute, his cross evaded Diallo but reached Mbeumo who finally converted to claim his first goal in the last 12 games. The congratulations from teammates were shared equally between the two men.
This game wasn’t finished, though, and neither was Anderson. When he was given time and space again in a similar position two minutes later, he played a low cross to Gibbs-White who angled his left foot to meet it with a first-time effort that flew past Lammens.
Casemiro made a predictably emotional exit a few minutes later to a standing ovation around the place he has called home for the last four years, and there was time for Fernandes to go close to clinching the assist record outright when he set up Dalot to who hit the post.
