“A very proud moment” as Bruno Fernandes breaks Premier League assists record [video] | OneFootball

Bruno Fernandes stands alone as the all-time highest assist-maker in a single Premier League season, after laying on Manchester United’s opener in their final-day 3-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Fernandes swung in a corner for Patrick Dorgu to head United into the lead on 33 minutes at the Amex Stadium, after which the Red Devils cruised to a comfortable win thanks to further goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Fernandes himself, who finished clinically in the second half to make it a positive send off for the captain. Both goals after the memorable opener were of impressive quality, as United made light work of a tricky fixture.

Having equalled the Premier League record last week with an assist for Mbeumo against Nottingham Forest, Fernandes took to the pitch on Sunday needing one more to move clear of legendary players Thierry Henry of Arsenal and Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City, both of whom recorded 20 assists in individual seasons.

Fernandes’ 21st came on an afternoon on which United finished the league season in 3rd place – six points clear of 4th place Aston Villa. Given the struggles of last term when Fernandes and his teammates ended in a desperate 15th place, the recovery this season under Michael Carrick and previously Ruben Amorim has been impressive.

“It’s great, I feel very happy for that. It’s a very proud moment,” Fernandes said. “Obviously it’s not something that I would ever dream or think about until I got this close. I was lucky enough to get it.

“Jonny [Evans] believed more than me in that set piece that we prepared for Patrick, because I wasn’t sure Patrick was able to score with his head. But he did and at the end of the day I got my assist from that and I’m very happy. But the most important thing is we won today and we finished very strong.

“It was already special, being in their company. We’re talking about two players who made the Premier League so great. They were two of the greatest in the Premier League. Obviously the assist record is just a complimentary thing of football, but I’m very happy, very proud, because we’re talking about two big names in the world of football. It's a proud moment, but nothing has changed from what I want.”

The feat for Fernandes came shortly after he was named Premier League Player of the Year. The award is voted for by an assortment of ex-players and media figures and follows Fernandes being issued the prestigious Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year by journalists.

Fernandes, who was named The Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year at Manchester United for a record 5th time, will be in contention to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, voted for by his peers, which is typically announced at the start of the new season.