West Brom beat already-relegated Rotherham 2-0 at The Hawthorns to consolidate their place in the Championship play-offs.
Brandon Thomas-Asante and John Swift secured the win as the Baggies took full advantage of slip-ups by the chasing pack.
The major talking point came in the lead up to Swift’s goal from the penalty spot. Referee Geoff Eltringham adjudged defender Lee Peltier to have handled the ball despite clearly being outside of the penalty area.
Rotherham initially negated Albion’s efforts to make an early breakthrough. Swift had an opportunity when he met Tom Fellows’ low centre from the right but he guided his effort over the bar.
Thomas-Asante then was played in, over the top, by Swift, but the striker forced his shot wide from a tight angle.
West Brom went ahead midway through the first half. Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston sent Adam Reach racing down the left and he delivered a sharp low ball for Thomas-Asante, who could not miss from a couple of yards out.
Rotherham, having fallen behind, might have allowed the floodgates to open but they themselves began to play with more purpose.
Hakeem Odoffin sent a deep cross from the right which Cafu ambitiously met on the volley but ultimately hammered his half chance well over the bar.
West Brom doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time, however, in the most controversial of circumstances. Thomas-Asante leathered a shot from around 25 yards out which appeared goalbound, only for the ball to strike Peltier.
Referee Eltringham paused for a moment before pointing to the spot – despite Peltier appearing to be a number of yards outside of the penalty area.
The decision was greeted with disbelief by The Hawthorns and understandable bemusement by Rotherham, who had assistant head coach Rob Kelly booked for his protests. Swift duly converted to hand the hosts a half-time cushion.
Rotherham returned to the field undeterred and so easily could have pulled one back immediately when Sebastian Revan burst into the penalty area and laid the ball off for his captain Oliver Rathbone, who fizzed a shot just wide of Alex Palmer’s post.
Revan himself then tested Palmer but the Millers were grateful to their own keeper Viktor Johansson, who stopped Thomas-Asante adding to West Brom’s tally after he was superbly played in by Johnston.
The hosts’ top scorer then blazed an effort over the bar from six yards out in what was his final act before he made way for the returning Josh Maja in the closing stages.
Cacereno 1-3 Atletico Madrid: Simeone's side survive scare after late fightback
Atletico Madrid progressed to the Copa del Rey last 32, but only after surviving a scare against fourth-tier Cacereno.
Diego Simeone's side trailed 1-0 in the 83rd minute at Estadio Principe Felipe, after Alvario Merencio's first-half strike.
However, the LaLiga side levelled through Clement Lenglet, before striking twice in stoppage time through Julian Alvarez and an Adri Perez own-goal.
Julio Cobos' side were on a four-match winning streak in Group 5 of the Segunda Federacion, and took the lead on the half-hour mark, with Merencio rounding off a quick counter.
The hosts held firm but were finally breached seven minutes from time, when Lenglet headed in from Rodrigo de Paul's cross.
Cacereno were reduced to 10 men two minutes later with Jaime Sancho shown a second yellow card, and Atletico capitalised on their numerical advantage in stoppage time.
De Paul's shot deflected in off Perez to complete the turnaround, while Alvarez put the tie beyond the fourth-tier outfit later on.
Data Debrief: Late, late show spares Atletico blushes
Atletico had won each of their last seven matches across all competitions, but they were given an almighty scare on Thursday.
Nevertheless, Simeone's side eventually broke Cacereno's resistance, scoring three goals from the 83rd minute onwards in any competition for only the second time - also doing so against Real Zaragoza in June 2013.
Man City to face Juventus at revamped Club World Cup
Manchester City will launch their Club World Cup title defence against Moroccan side Wydad, while also facing Juventus in the group stage of the revamped tournament.
Pep Guardiola's side are the reigning champions having lifted the title in 2023, following their 4-0 victory over Brazilian club Fluminense in the final.
City are also joined by Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates in Group G of the 32-team tournament in 2025, which will take place in the United States between June 15 and July 13.
Reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid have been drawn alongside Red Bull Salzburg, Pachuca and Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal in Group H, meaning Kylian Mbappe and Neymar could be in line for a reunion.
That duo's former club, Paris Saint-Germain, are joined by Atletico Madrid in Group B.
Chelsea will play Flamengo, Club Leon and Esperance Sportive de Tunisie in Group D, as Bayern Munich and Benfica are paired together in Group C.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami were somewhat contentiously included. They won MLS' Supporters' Shield, yet were dumped out of the playoffs by Atlanta United.
Miami will face Porto, Palmeiras and Al-Ahly in Group A.
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al-Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Auckland City.
Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Club Leon, Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
Group E: River Plate, Inter, Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Man City, Juventus, Wydad AC, Al-Ain.
Group H: Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Al-Hilal, Pachuca.
Nuno expects tough test versus Amorim's Man Utd
While Nuno Espirito Santo remains uncertain how Ruben Amorim will set Manchester United up on Saturday, he expects Nottingham Forest to face a tough test at Old Trafford.
Forest were beaten 3-0 by Premier League champions Manchester City on Wednesday, their third defeat in their last four games.
However, they remain within touching distance of the top five ahead of a second successive away game in Manchester, where they will face Ruben Amorim's United.
United suffered their first defeat under the former Sporting CP coach on Wednesday, going down 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
With Amorim still getting to grips with his new squad, Nuno does not know what tactical challenges to expect but is certain United will present a major challenge.
The former Wolves boss said: "Their results are difficult to predict because Ruben in this moment is changing a lot.
"I think he is trying to get to know players better. The idea is there, we don't know exactly who is going to play, but for sure they have quality players.
"They are quality and have talented players. The shape is there. The personnel and the players... we cannot identify who is going to start, but our approach is always the same.
"Let's focus on the things they have been doing but also let's look at getting the advantage. It is always a tough place to go but let's focus on being positive on the game."
United conceded two goals from corners in their midweek defeat to the Gunners, prompting defender Matthijs de Ligt to demand improvements.
"In the end, we are Manchester United," De Ligt told MUTV. "We lost again and, yeah, it's easy, it's not good enough.
"So, we know that, we will work hard. We have to improve, and in two days or three days is the next game, so that will be a really important one again for us, to show again what we learned from this game and get the three points."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has been involved in 11 goals in his last 10 appearances at Old Trafford (four goals, seven assists), having a hand in six goals in his last four in the Premier League (two goals, four assists).
He's never scored or assisted in five in a row in the league at Old Trafford, while Marcus Rashford was the last United player to do so overall (seven in 2022-23).
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Wood has scored 12 goals in his last 14 away Premier League starts for Nottingham Forest, netting in three in a row before Wednesday's defeat at the Etihad.
He missed a glorious chance while Forest were a goal down last time out and will be determined to atone here.
MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
Man United have won six of their seven Premier League home games against Forest, with the exception being a 2-1 loss in December 1994.
They have also scored in all 14 of their Premier League games against Forest, their joint-best 100% scoring record against an opponent in the competition along with Swansea City.
The Red Devils have won 3-0 against Leicester City and 4-0 against Everton in their last two Premier League home games.
They have not scored three or more goals in three consecutive home league games since February 2021, while they last did so while winning each time in December 2018.
With United also beating Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, Amorim has won both of his home games in charge of the side so far – only five managers have won their first three at home with the Red Devils, most recently Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018-19.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester United – 55.9%
Nottingham Forest – 21.4%
Draw – 22.7%
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