Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace: Score, Grades and Reaction from Game

Substitute Juan Mata broke the resistance of a stubborn Crystal Palace side on Saturday, as Manchester United clinched a much-needed 1-0 Premier League victory at Old Trafford.

Mata, who had come on only moments earlier, beat the unfortunate Julian Speroni at his near post with a 25-yard drive shortly after the hour-mark, with a slight deflection off defender Damien Delaney fooling the goalkeeper and sending the ball beyond his outstretched hand.

It was a moment of good fortune that United needed; Louis van Gaal’s side had created the better opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, and only occasionally looked like conceding at the other end, but nevertheless Palace were clearly growing in confidence in the moments leading up to Mata’s intervention—a moment that seemed to knock the wind from their sails.

Fraizer Campbell missed the visitor’s best chance of the game just before half-time, while James McArthur’s goalline clearance from Marouane Fellaini was among the highlights of a number of occasions where Palace rode their luck.

United briefly moved up to sixth in the table with 16 points thanks to the victory. For Palace, however, the situation is much bleaker—a victory for QPR in the day’s late kick-off will see the Eagles drop into the relegation zone, with just nine points from their opening 11 games.

Van Gaal solved his well-publicised defensive issues in unexpected fashion, naming Daley Blind in central defence alongside teenager Paddy McNair—with Michael Carrick instead making his return to the starting lineup in his more familiar central midfield position.

Midfield was where Neil Warnock’s biggest pre-match decision needed to be made, with McArthur coming in for suspended captain Mile Jedinak. Another change was also enforced, Jason Puncheon replacing the ineligible Wilfried Zaha, while Adrian Mariappa replaced Martin Kelly in defence.

Almost from the off Manchester United controlled the possession and the chances, with Palace willing to sit deep and spring something on the counter-attack. In that regard they were helped by a combination of United’s profligacy and Speroni’s excellence—the Argentine denying Luke Shaw with one eye-catching save, as both Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj went close with efforts from just outside the box.

The best chance of the first half actually fell to the visitors, however. From Manchester United’s perspective it was an embarrassing attempt to concede, as McNair and Blind got in a mix-up as Delaney’s rather aimless long ball over the top was latched onto by the ever-willing Campbell.

The striker had only De Gea to beat as the two central defenders lumbered after him, but could not find the deft touch he needed as his attempted lob flew well over the crossbar.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

In the second half United continued to push forward, although Palace’s defenders showed a remarkable ability to throw a body in front of any attempted shot. Fellaini’s aerial ability was a constant threat, however, with the Belgian surely thinking he had scored before his low header was desperately cleared away off the line by McArthur.

That was to come moments before the deadlock was finally broken. Mata was only introduced for the inconsistent Januzaj in the 63rd minute, but by the 67th he had made his presence known. Palace, perhaps tiring slightly, gave the Spaniard too much room on the edge of the box, and the ex-Chelsea man took full advantage to unleash a powerful shot at Speroni’s near post.

The goalkeeper should perhaps have covered the attempt, although further replays showed the shot took a slighty deflection off Delaney, one just sufficient to fool the Argentine.

From that moment the tension seemed to lift from the crowd, and consequently the players on the pitch operated with a greater freedom. Palace only occasionally looked like getting on terms, with Campbell going close with one attempt as another raking ball caused consternation in the United defence.

The home side, however, always looked far more likely to get the next goal—even if Robin van Persie was enduring another off-night in the final third. A clinching strike was not forthcoming but, after recent results, the three points will more than satisfy Van Gaal.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Player Ratings

Player	Rating
David De Gea	6
Antonio Valencia	6
Paddy McNair	7
Daley Blind	6
Luke Shaw	7
Marouane Fellaini	7
Michael Carrick	8
Angel di Maria	7
Adnan Januzaj	6
Wayne Rooney	6
Robin van Persie	6
Substitutions
Juan Mata	7
James Wilson	7

Player	Rating
Julian Speroni	7
Adrian Mariappa	7
Damien Delaney	6
Scott Dann	7
Joel Ward	6
Joe Ledley	6
James McArthur	7
Jason Puncheon	6
Yannick Bolasie	6
Marouane Chamakh	7
Fraizer Campbell	7
Substitutions
Barry Bannan	6
Dwight Gayle	6
Kevin Doyle	6

What's Next?

The international break brings domestic matters to a pause for a short while. Crystal Palace's next game is against Liverpool on November 23, while Manchester United have the small matter of a trip to face Arsenal the day before.