Albion 0 Manchester United 3: Back in Europe despite final-day defeat

It's Conference League football next season as a fraught afternoon ends with Albion in eighth and heading back into Europe.

Bruce Talbot

2026-05-24T18:00+01:00

Lewis Dunk brings the ball out of defence. 📷James Boardman

Albion are going on another European tour despite a final-day defeat in the Amex sunshine.

When Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 to the visitors early in the second half it left Albion relying on other results to secure European football for the second time in their history - and the fans living on their nerves.

Sunderland beat Chelsea to move above Albion into the Europa League place but Brentford’s failure to win at Anfield left Albion with something to celebrate - Conference League football next season.

Albion had started brightly but United played with the freedom of a team who knew their target for the season had already been accomplished. Goals from Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbuemo and Bruno Fernandes ended the game as a contest by the 49th minute, leaving Albion fans with a fraught ten minutes of added time at Anfield to monitor before a deafening roar just after 6pm meant eighth place was confirmed and the players could enjoy a lap of honour in the sunshine.

Lewis Dunk brings the ball out of defence. 📷James Boardman

The atmosphere at kick-off has never been better in the recent history of the Amex. Thousands of blue and white flags greeted the teams as they came out and the noise levels were off the scale.

Albion responded with a ferocious intensity, snapping into duels and harrying United when they had possession.

But when they calmed things down there was a good chance for Ferdi Kadioglu. Diego Gomez’s deep cross to the left was cushioned into his path by Max De Cuyper but Kadigolu skied his volley from the corner of the box.

Wieffer had time to line-up a right-foot shot from 22 yards out which drifted a yard wide of the far post and Albion would have been pleased with their start.

James Milner tries to unlock Manchester United's defence. 📷Paul Hazlewood

But it was United who opened the scoring on 33 minutes with their first attempt on target. Bruno Fernandes’ corner from the right was perfect for Dorgu to climb and power a header in off the underside of the bar and past the helpless Bart Verbruggen. Fernandes had his record for the most assists in a Premier League season.

Suddenly Albion looked jittery and Verbruggen needed to be alert to pounce on the ball when James Milner diverted Amad’s ball across the face of goal. At the other end Gomez connected with De Cuyper’s cross but his shot lacked power and drifted wide.

United doubled their lead with a fine goal on 43 minutes. Mason Mount slid a lovely ball into the path of Amad and his low cross was turned in by the unmarked Mbuemo at the far post.

Four minutes after the break it was 3-0. Dorgu was the provider this time, winning the ball high up and feeding Fernandes, whose finish across Verbruggen and into the far corner was superb.

Pascal Gross lets fly in the first half. 📷Paul Hazlewood

It needed a smart save from Verbruggen to prevent Dorgu from getting a fourth and Albion’s keeper made another stop moments later when he pushed away Amad’s fiercely struck shot.

Gomez wasted another opportunity when he dragged a shot wide after good work by Pascal Gross.

Fabian Hurzeler made a triple change with Solly March making his 300th appearance but the Amex crowd’s focus had switched to events elsewhere: Brentford losing then equalising; Sunderland beating Chelsea 2-0 before pulling one back. As it stood Albion were still in Europe.

March warmed Senne Lammens’ palms with a stinging drive with four minutes to go but Albion were denied a goal.

They will, however, be playing in Europe again next season.

Albion: Verbruggen, De Cuyper, Dunk, van Hecke, Kadioglu, Milner (Baleba 58), Gross, Wieffer, Gomez (March 58), Hinshelwood, Welbeck (Kostoulas 58).