As the Manchester United players cajoled Bruno Fernandes to step forward and take a bow in front of the travelling fans, the rest of the Amex Stadium waited apprehensively for news from Anfield.
Fernandes already had his reward: the outright record for assists in a single Premier League season after claiming No.21 on the final day here to set United on course for victory.
Brighton needed Brentford to drop points at Liverpool and confirmation of a draw sparked celebrations as they qualified for Europe for only the second time in the club’s history via the Conference League.
So everyone went home happy and no-one more so than Fernandes who moved ahead of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne when his corner was headed in by Patrick Dorgu in the first half.
‘It was already special being in their company, they were two of the greatest in the Premier League,’ said the United captain. ‘Obviously, it’s not something I would dream about until I got this close – it’s a very proud moment.’
Fernandes is so many things to United. As well as the assist, he also scored his ninth goal of the season. At one point in the second half, he helped teenage substitute Shea Lacey tie his laces.
Bruno Fernandes (left) teed up Patrick Dorgu (right) to break the Premier League asissts record
Dorgu headed in on the final day at Brighton from Fernandes’ whipped in corner from the right
It’s imperative that United keep him after the uncertainty of last summer. ‘I’ve got no reason to think otherwise,’ said head coach Michael Carrick. ‘He’s such an influence for us. We’ve loved what he’s done, and he loves being here.’
Carrick’s first game since being appointed on a full-time basis demonstrated so much of what persuaded the club to give him the job after the remarkable turnaround under him since January.
Let’s not forget that Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for United in recent seasons, winning six of the last eight league meetings between the two clubs and knocking them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford in January in what was the last game before Carrick took over.
They started the day in contention for a Champions League place, but were swept aside as Dorgu headed in and then teed up Fernandes for the third either side of Bryan Mbeumo finishing off a well-worked goal.
At least Brighton had that European consolation. ‘It was the worst time for this performance from us, but when you see the overall season we should be happy with what we achieved,’ said head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
The Brighton fans had jeered Fernandes as he walked over to take a corner in the 34th minute, as opposition fans usually do. The man who is loved by United supporters, and the man their rivals love to hate.
Fernandes has seen and heard it all before. He teed the ball up and then delivered it expertly into the penalty box where it found Dorgu who powered a header into the net off the underside of the bar.
And that was that. Fernandes had emulated Henry and De Bruyne with assist No.20 against Nottingham Forest last weekend, but now the record was his alone. Another accolade at the end of a season in which he has been voted FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.
Fernandes scored with a ninth goal of the campaign to cap his outstanding season
Opta Analyst’s graphic shows the make-up of Fernandes’ record-breaking 21 league assists
The United players crowded around their captain to congratulate him, and now it was the turn of the away fans to make themselves heard at the other end of the Amex as they paid tribute to their ‘Portuguese magnifico’.
His was not the only performance of note here. Dorgu made the most of his first start since January, Amad Diallo looked more like his old self, Kobbie Mainoo excelled again, and Mason Mount alongside him was a fine replacement for Casemiro.
‘Especially for the younger players, you can’t put a price on a season or two in this league and playing for Manchester United, dealing with that, and learning, and understanding what it feels like to then perform,’ said Carrick.
‘The boys have shown that. I think Patrick, especially, it was a massive setback for him at the time when he got injured, but the way he’s just got on with it, I think it’s incredible to think he’s so young still. To come back like he did today is great.
‘I have to say Mason, in particular, as well, came and played in midfield. I was delighted for him. I thought he did ever so well, and Kobbie’s just improving all the time.’
For most of a first half played in bright sunshine, Brighton looked like the team with more to play for as they chased a place in Europe. The closest they came, however, was in the 20th minute when Maxim De Cuyper received the ball on the left and cut inside before flashing an effort narrowly wide of Senne Lammens’ left-hand post.
United appeared a little lethargic and Carrick took advantage of a water break midway through the half to urge his players to raise their game. They responded with two goals in the space of 10 minutes.
The first saw Fernandes claim the assist record outright. The second really was a thing of beauty as United cut through Brighton to take charge of this game.
Noussair Mazraoui passed to Diallo in the box and the Ivorian played a quick one-two with Mount before squaring to Mbeumo who had the simple task of tapping the ball over the line.
Having got that all-important assist, Fernandes added a goal three minutes into the second half – his first since United were last on the South Coast at Bournemouth in March.
The ball was played out to Diallo on the right and he guided a pass just where Dorgu wanted it, in behind the Brighton defence. The Denmark international got the ball caught under his feet but kept his head and found Fernandes on the overlap who whipped a shot wide of Bart Verbruggen.
A goal and an assist was not a bad contribution at all from Dorgu who made way for Lacey just after the hour mark as the youngster made his first senior appearance since he was sent off on his home debut in United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Diallo tested Verbruggen before Diego Gomez missed a great chance to give Brighton some hope as he dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box.
It was his last contribution before he was replaced by Solly March in a triple substitution that also saw Carlos Baleba come on for James Milner on what could be his last appearance, and Charalampos Kostoulas for Danny Welbeck whose 400th Premier League game was a quiet one against his old club, having previously scored eight times against United in all competitions.
There was an end-of-season feel to it for United, and Carrick was able to send on Tyrell Malacia for his farewell appearance and Joshua Zirzkee for what may prove to be his.
It was in danger of falling flat for Brighton but news of Brentford’s draw at Anfield at least meant they were able to share the party mood.