Premier League round-up as Manchester United beat Aston Villa and Bruno Fernandes reaches major milestone

Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 15/03/2026

- 16:03

Updated: 15/03/2026

- 16:52

GB News provide a full round-up of all this afternoon's Premier League action

The early Sunday games in the Premier League provided drama, chaos and penalty misses, with Manchester United beating Aston Villa in a crucial game to help determine Champions League qualification.

The result means the Red Devils widen their gap in third place by three points.


Meanwhile, the other two early games on Sunday ended in goalless draws but had huge consequences for the table as the season draws to a close.

Nottingham Forest in their draw against Fulham.

GB News provide a full round-up of all this afternoon's Premier League action.

Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa

Bruno Fernandes achieved a remarkable double milestone as Manchester United secured a vital 3-1 triumph against Aston Villa at Old Trafford this afternoon.

The Portuguese captain reached 100 career assists for the club whilst also surpassing David Beckham's long-standing Premier League assists record in a single campaign.

Fernandes now has 16 league assists this season, eclipsing Beckham's mark of 15 set during the 1999-2000 season.

The United skipper orchestrated both opening goals, first delivering the corner from which Casemiro headed home, then threading a sublime pass for Matheus Cunha to restore the hosts' advantage after Ross Barkley had briefly levelled.

The victory lifted Michael Carrick's side three points clear of their rivals in the battle for Champions League qualification, with the manager preserving his unblemished home record.

Casemiro's header marked his seventh league goal of the campaign, his most productive season at the club, and the ninth time he has converted from a Fernandes set-piece since 2022-23.

Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to seal the result in the 81st minute, his deflected strike taking his tally to nine goals, with the majority coming in recent matches.

The Stretford End serenaded the departing Brazilian midfielder with chants of "One more year Casemiro".

Manchester United

Manchester United beat Aston Villa in a crucial game to help determine Champions League qualification

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Nottingham Forrest 0-0 Fulham

Nottingham Forest escaped the Premier League's bottom three following their scoreless stalemate with Fulham at the City Ground, though the result will feel like a wasted chance.

The draw lifted Forest above West Ham courtesy of goal difference, bringing them level on points with Tottenham ahead of Spurs' fixture against Liverpool later today.

However, their inability to score on home turf continues to hamper their fight for survival.

Forest have managed to find the back of the net on just two occasions across their last seven top-flight matches at home.

Dan Ndoye saw both a goal and a penalty ruled out for offside after straying beyond Fulham's defensive line.

Vitor Pereira, who has yet to secure a league victory since taking charge from Sean Dyche, now faces a difficult choice regarding his squad's priorities.

The Portuguese manager must weigh up whether to rest players for Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg against FC Midtjylland in order to focus on the vital trip to Tottenham next week.

That fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium carries enormous significance for Forest's survival hopes.

Meanwhile, Fulham harbour their own European aspirations but failed to pose any real threat throughout the encounter at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forrest vs Fulham

Nottingham Forest escaped the Premier League's bottom three following their scoreless stalemate with Fulham at the City Ground

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Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds United

Leeds United's miserable record in the capital continued as they secured just a single point from a 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park, stretching their winless streak across London to a dozen matches.

Despite battling with ten players for the entire second period, the Whites managed to salvage what could prove a crucial point given their slide back into the relegation scrap following five games without victory.

The match burst into life only in the closing stages of the opening half.

Palace skipper Will Hughes gifted Leeds an opportunity when he inexplicably used his hand to block an Anton Stach corner, conceding a spot-kick.

Calvert-Lewin sent goalkeeper Walter Benitez diving the wrong direction but fired his effort wide of the left post.

The chaos intensified as referee Tom Bramall cautioned both managers, Oliver Glasner and Daniel Farke, amid rising frustrations.

Gudmundsson then fouled Sarr, receiving a booking that Bramall initially failed to recognise as his second before eventually producing the red card.

Glasner introduced Jean-Philippe Mateta after the interval, though the French forward received a lukewarm welcome following his unsuccessful January move to AC Milan.

Mateta came close to silencing his critics when he met a Sarr cross, but Karl Darlow clawed the ball away brilliantly.

Jefferson Lerma appeared to have broken the deadlock late on, bundling home from close range, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.