Ten-man United hold on to beat Palace 2-1

Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 1

Fernandes (7 Pen), Rashford (62), Casemiro (70 Red) – Schlupp (76)

[Highlights and Post-Match Reactions below]

With goals from Fernandes and Rashford, United looked like they were cruising to a comfortable victory. Then one moment of madness turned a comfortable win into a defiant last stand as ten-man United held on for the three points. United’s recent lessons, notably in the reverse fixture, have hardened them to adversity, and this will have strengthened them further even if they are without Casemiro for three games.

United started superbly, and within five minutes, Rashford forced an obvious handball from Will Hughes. The referee tried to ignore it but United players and eventually VAR forced him to make a decision. After checking the VAR monitor, even he couldn’t deny the penalty, and he reluctantly awarded it. Fernandes stepped up and, with his stuttering run sending the keeper the wrong way, slotted it into the opposite corner.

For the next fifteen minutes, United were dominant. They harried Palace players out of possession and attacked with pace and verve. However, for all their dominance, they couldn’t get a second goal. They allowed Palace more possession as time went on but deservedly went in ahead at half-time.

The second half started as the first half ended, with Palace growing more into the game and building towards a chance. United were struggling to create opportunities, and Weghorst had become ineffectual in attack. Around the hour mark, he was substituted for Garnancho, which allowed Rashford to play through the middle. The change made a difference almost immediately. After some neat passing from United, Garnacho played the ball wide to Shaw. He cut it back, and Rashford put it away from close in. Rashford now has nineteen goals for United this season.

Two goals up and with twenty minutes to go, Antony was barged into the advertising hoardings. A huge melee erupted. When the dust had settled, the referee sent Casemiro off. VAR had caught the Brazilian’s hands around the neck of Hughes. Casemiro will miss three games. Leeds twice and then Leicester. It meant United were down to ten with plenty of time for Crystal Palace to take advantage. And soon they did. After some confusion from a corner, United failed to clear, and Schlupp side-footed it home.

In the end, United had four central defenders protecting the goal. They bent but never broke again.

Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fernandes, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Sabitzer, Dalot, Sancho, Garnacho, Mainoo.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Clyne, Richards, Guehi, Mitchell, Doucoure, Schlupp, Ayew, Hughes, Olise, Edouard.
Subs: Johnstone, Whitworth, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Lokonga, Eze, Mateta, Ahamada, Riedewald

Highlights:

Doubt cast on Casemiro’s Red Card

Post-Match Reactions:

Match Reports

Sir Alex Ferguson’s reaction shows how vital Manchester United’s win vs Crystal Palace was (MEN)

Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 1 (BBC)

Manchester United hold firm to beat Crystal Palace after Casemiro sees red (Guardian)