Match ends, Manchester United 2, Crystal Palace 1.
Marcus Rashford continued his post-World Cup scoring streak as a Manchester United side reduced to 10 men survived late Crystal Palace pressure to secure Premier League victory at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot after the video assistant referee spotted a Will Hughes handball and United seemed to be cruising when Rashford turned home Luke Shaw's cross 17 minutes into the second half for his 11th goal since returning from Qatar.
But the contest turned dramatically when, amid a confrontation that resulted in both Antony and Jeffrey Schlupp being booked, VAR Tony Harrington spotted Casemiro with his hands round Hughes' neck.
After a pitchside review, referee Andre Marriner sent the influential Brazilian off for violent conduct, which triggers an immediate three-match domestic ban.
- Several players 'crossed line', says Ten Hag
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- What did you make of Crystal Palace's display? Send us your views here
Schlupp halved the deficit almost immediately and amid increasingly frantic scenes around the home area, United ended the game with four central defenders protecting their goal as Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were added to starting pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
Respective managers Erik ten Hag and Patrick Vieira, who started the afternoon laying wreaths in honour of the victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster, ended it ranting at fourth official Joshua Smith and then marching to the centre circle to make their points to Marriner as both argued against decisions that went against their team.
United's 13th consecutive win at Old Trafford lifts them to third in the table while Palace remain 12th.
Rashford and Fred key for United
With Antony Martial ruled out through injury, Rashford's goals output is going to be crucial for United.
He now has 19 in all competitions and the England man also claimed an assist for the hosts' opener when his cross was handled by Hughes and Fernandes converted the resulting penalty.
If Rashford's goals are needed, and with Casemiro now missing two Premier League games within five days against Leeds and the home encounter with Leicester on 19 February, Fred is almost as important.
The Brazilian has tended to be held up as an example of United's profligacy in the transfer market.
He cost £47m in 2018 but has rarely shown anything positive beyond running around furiously to no great end product.
Yet, as Ten Hag pointed out recently, the midfielder partners Casemiro for his country "and Brazil are not a bad side", suggesting the 29-year-old is capable of more than he has produced in his nearly five seasons in the Premier League.
He has looked a different player in recent times.
Fred still hustles and harries but he also links play well, is prepared to shoot from distance and, as he proved when he burst into the box and sent Wout Weghorst's cut-back to the near post narrowly wide of the Palace goal, can be a significant threat inside the area as well.
When he laid on his back deep in injury time and gulped in some air, it underlined the effort Fred had put in during the desperate defending United were forced into at the end.
Palace poor run continues
This was yet another day when Palace played well and ended without reward.
Vieira's side now have five points from their past eight games, form that must be overturned if they are to stay out of trouble at the bottom of the table.
Schlupp was excellent. His goal was instinctive and he also created an opening in the first half with a neat turn into space.
The absence of Wilfried Zaha with a hamstring injury was not a major blow in that sense and it took a brilliant David de Gea save to deny skipper Marc Guehi and concede the corner from which Palace scored.
However, while they are unquestionably a better side to watch than in Roy Hodgson's day, they are also easier to score against.
They have only five top-flight clean sheets all season and the room Rashford was afforded for what turned out to be the winner was poor considering how close he was to goal. Amid the fluidity of his side further forward, Vieira must not neglect the basic art of defending.
Player of the match
RashfordMarcus Rashford
Manchester United
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
8.22
- Squad number6Player nameLi MartínezAverage rating
7.69
- Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
7.62
- Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
7.50
- Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
7.37
- Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating
7.14
- Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
7.14
- Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number15Player nameSabitzerAverage rating
7.07
- Squad number49Player nameGarnachoAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number27Player nameWeghorstAverage rating
6.93
- Squad number18Player nameCasemiroAverage rating
6.77
- Squad number21Player nameAntonyAverage rating
6.69
- Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating
6.55
Crystal Palace
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number8Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
5.49
- Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
5.11
- Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number26Player nameRichardsAverage rating
4.99
- Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
4.96
- Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
4.93
- Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
4.92
- Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
4.87
- Squad number29Player nameAhamadaAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number17Player nameClyneAverage rating
4.83
- Squad number19Player nameHughesAverage rating
4.82
- Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
4.79
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-BissakaSubstituted forLindelöfat 87'minutes
- 19Varane
- 6Li Martínez
- 23Shaw
- 18CasemiroBooked at 70mins
- 17Fred
- 21AntonyBooked at 67minsSubstituted forSabitzerat 81'minutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- 10Rashford
- 27WeghorstSubstituted forGarnachoat 59'minutesSubstituted forMaguireat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 12Malacia
- 15Sabitzer
- 20Dalot
- 22Heaton
- 25Sancho
- 49Garnacho
- 73Mainoo
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Guaita
- 17Clyne
- 26Richards
- 6Guéhi
- 3MitchellBooked at 45mins
- 28DoucouréSubstituted forAhamadaat 82'minutes
- 19HughesSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 72'minutes
- 9J AyewSubstituted forEzeat 73'minutes
- 7Olise
- 15SchluppBooked at 67minsSubstituted forMatetaat 83'minutes
- 22Édouard
Substitutes
- 4Milivojevic
- 5Tomkins
- 8Sambi Lokonga
- 10Eze
- 14Mateta
- 21Johnstone
- 29Ahamada
- 41Whitworth
- 44Riedewald
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 73,420
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Crystal Palace 1.
Post update
Offside, Crystal Palace. Albert Sambi Lokonga tries a through ball, but Michael Olise is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyrick Mitchell.
Post update
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Richards (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Foul by Marcel Sabitzer (Manchester United).
Post update
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high following a set piece situation.
Post update
Attempt missed. Naouirou Ahamada (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Victor Lindelöf replaces Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Harry Maguire replaces Alejandro Garnacho.
Post update
Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Post update
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Naouirou Ahamada replaces Cheick Oumar Doucouré.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Marcel Sabitzer replaces Antony.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right.
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Comments
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Surprised the ref only played 10 minutes of the 7 minutes of injury time......
I think until Utd give Antony an education he'll continue to be a problem for you.
Frustrating game for an Eagle, you guys stifled us until the red!
Well played and good luck
United normally would have collapsed after that red card and lost 4-2
Sigh of relief in the end; Martinez saves the day.