Michael Carrick’s masterstroke determination as Man Utd climb to 3rd in Crystal Palace win
Manchester United climbed to third in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat 10-man Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Making the battle for Champions League places a four-way fight was what Michael Carrick’s side had in mind after Aston Villa’s defeat at Wolves on Friday meant the Red Devils had the chance to climb above Unai Emery’s side. And that’s what they did thanks to a second-half turnaround via a penalty from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko continuing his goalscoring touch.
United last beat the Eagles at Old Trafford in September 2023 in the Carabao Cup and in the league in February of that year. The Reds’ record at home to Palace has been far from desirable, with them being beaten in their last two Old Trafford match-ups against Palace – and history was repeating itself early on.
(Image: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
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With just four minutes on the clock, Maxence Lacroix headed in brilliantly from a corner to stun the already flat atmosphere around Old Trafford. You could have heard a pin drop before the travelling Palace fans in the far corner realised the ball had dropped into the net.
Without Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro was named to partner Harry Maguire but the 20-year-old’s physical vulnerability was exposed again when Lacroix was allowed a free header after brushing off the Frenchman as he got lost under the flight of the ball.
Yoro’s struggles continued against the imposing and rejuvenated Jorgen Strand Larson as the 6ft 4 won a cheap free-kick when Yoro brought him down having been beaten to the loose play by the Dane. Fortunately for United, the resulting free-kick came to nothing, but Yoro’s woes summed up the host’s dreadful start.
(Image: Stu Forster, Getty Images)
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The Red Army attempted to raise the atmosphere around the ground but the lacklustre football on offer by United failed to rouse the crowd. An injury sustained to Luke Shaw’s foot didn’t help the mood around Old Trafford either.
It wasn’t until the final 10 minutes of the first-half when the United faithful were on their feet when Benjamin Sesko, in his first start under Michael Carrick, headed straight at Dean Henderson. The Reds got on the ball and pushed Palace deep into their own half.
But it was set pieces where United had their best chances in the opening 45, first Bruno Fernandes had a dead ball effort well saved by Henderson before Casemiro headed a golden chance wide from a delivery on the money from the Portuguese.
Carrick’s words at the break appeared to had been heard as Benjamin Sesko and Casemiro both failed to take early chances just two minutes into the second half. VAR also appeared to miss a handball by Lacroix when he deflected Sesko’s header into Henderson’s hands.
(Image: PA)
However, VAR was not on Lacroix’s side minutes later when he dragged down Matheus Cunha inside the box to give away a penalty and received a red card following a review for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Fernandes stepped up and won the battle of nerves to put the Reds firmly in the driving seat.
The mood around Old Trafford was also flipped on its head with United in the ascendancy against 10-men who played in the Conference League on Thursday night. And the roof was raised again soon after when Sesko vindicated his selection to powerfully head home his seventh goal in eight games from Fernandes’ pinpoint cross just eight minutes later.
However, United didn’t go in search for a third goal that would have in all likelihood killed the game as they attempted to wear down the tired Palace legs by playing it in defence and in midfield.
A golden chance again fell the way of Casemiro before Amad, who replaced Sesko, and Cunha both saw efforts from distance well saved. The Ivorian almost sealed the win in spectacular style from 25 yards out but was denied by the fingertips of the ex-United stopper.
