BRUNO FERNANDES and Luke Shaw carried Manchester United to a rare 2-1 win at Selhurst Park to end Crystal Palace’s 12-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s retaken penalty gave the Eagles a deserved lead going into half-time, before United scored twice in 10 minutes after the break.
Joshua Zirkzee’s first Prem goal in 364 days caught the crowd off guard, before Mason Mount was teed up by Fernandes’ free-kick for a low strike under the wall.
Ruben Amorim‘s 3-4-2-1 came out trumps over Oliver Glasner’s unit – who played 62 hours ago in the Europa League – as the Red Devils climbed to sixth in the table.
Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the visitors from a chilly and bizarre kick-off time in South London.
Senne Lammens – 5
The so-called penalty expert was sent the wrong way for both of Mateta’s penalties after the retake. But that’s by-the-by, he’s still more commanding than his predecessors.
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The Belgian was treated to a quiet second-half as Palace tired after losing 2-1 in France against Strasbourg on Thursday night.
Luke Shaw – 6
Shaw’s 300th game for United was solid. A crunching tackle midway through the half brought applause while a last-ditch tackle on the verge of half-time stopped a certain Eddie Nketiah goal.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
One of his weaker performances of the season. The Dutchman battled hard with Palace talisman Mateta, but often came out second best.
He was sent to the shops by the Frenchman, even leaving the pitch, as he was outmanoeuvred for an early chance that went just wide of the post.
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His Steven Gerrard-esque slip sent sub Nketiah through before Shaw’s crucial block before the break. Grew in confidence in the second-half as Palace’s momentum stalled.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Great tackle to get back on Ismaila Sarr in the early exchanges but his attacking threat is minimal.
United’s second-longest serving player is more vocal than his competitor Patrick Dorgu, so that’s a positive. He serenaded the away end full-time.
Won both of United’s goalscoring free-kicks. He needed this performance after recent struggles and Amorim’s recent daggers about his poor season.
Leny Yoro – 3
Followed up Everton with another nightmare here. His nervy start was made worse when De Ligt headed a clearance straight at him, which sprung into the path of Mateta, whose shot skimmed past the woodwork.
Too easily outjumped and beaten to a headed chance by Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix shortly after. But his crucial block denied Oliver Glanser’s side an opener.
The 19-year-old then conceded a penalty for a sloppy trip on Mateta and later was caught out with a poor lunge on the half-way line.
Was visibly distraught in the dugout after being hauled off for Noussair Mazaroui before the hour.
Amad – 5
Received a mouthful from Fernandes for being bullied off the ball by Daichi Kamada, who set Sarr free for a dangerous counter.
He was not as effective as usual on the right flank, but his work rate cannot be denied.
Casemiro – 4
It was his first time gracing the Selhurst Park pitch after Jamie Carragher’s infamous: “Leave the football, before the football leaves you” remarks in May 2024.
The 33-year-old performed better than his worst outing, but he was nevertheless eclipsed by United-linked midfielder Adam Wharton. But most are.
He nearly opened the scoring inside 60 seconds here if it wasn’t for former United keeper Dean Henderson’s tough handles in a scramble and sent a header well wide shortly after.
Conceded a clumsy last-minute free-kick on the edge of the box to set up a nail-biting finish.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Fernandes was back to his influencer role. He played a part in both goals from two well-delivered free-kicks. Another clever idea from the United skipper saw him lay-off his set-piece to Mount for 2-1.
As ever, Fernandes’s eagerness to get forward often left him leading the frontline press despite being one of Amorim’s holding midfielders this season.
But his intent on covering every blade of glass meant both him and Casemiro were too often bypassed in midfield in the first-half. The pair exchanged words when Casemiro looked to have been seeking a foul on the hour mark.
Bryan Mbeumo – 5
Booked inside 17 minutes for slamming the ball down to the turf after a contentious foul call on Marc Guehi.
The No10 had a quiet afternoon after his least influential performance in a United shirt against Everton, but Zirkzee got his way for a chance that would have made 3-1.
Mason Mount – 6
Mount’s fifth United goal was a cracker. The former England man’s low strike blistered under the Palace wall from Fernandes’ free-kick.
He was more-or-less a passenger in the first-half with all the action in United’s half, his first main inclusion coming when he stopped a breakaway in the 15th minute.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
After a quiet first-half the forgotten man found a way back in for United. His brilliant finish past Henderson from a tight angle woke the away end up, but the Palace keeper should have done better.
It’s a year tomorrow since his last Premier League goal and it clearly boosted his confidence as his touches improved as the game drew on. A miscommunication saw him get in Mbeumo’s way for a chance.
Subs
Noussair Mazraoui – (for Yoro ‘55) – 6
Was brought on with Yoro struggling but his flicked clearance into Zirkzee almost caused an own-goal with his first touch.
The Moroccan did somewhat sure things up at the back but Palace had tired by that point in the second-half.
Lisandro Martinez (for Shaw ‘82) – N/A
The Argentine was taken off in a stretcher after sustaining an ACL injury in this fixture at Old Trafford in February.
Kobbie Mainoo (for Mbeumo ‘90)
Patrick Dorgu (for Amad ‘90)