A Damien Delaney own goal and a fabulous strike from Matteo Darmian gave United the points against a disappointing Palace side
9.54pm BST
We’re going to wrap this blog up now. United go to Wembley on Saturday with confidence; Palace need to improve significantly. Thanks for reading. Bye!
Related: Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian finishes off limp Crystal Palace
9.54pm BST
Everton have been stuffed. Read more here:
Related: Ramiro Funes Mori sees red as Liverpool coast past 10-man Everton
Related: Andy Carroll and Mark Noble fire West Ham to victory against Watford
9.52pm BST
A comfortable, and impressive, victory from Man United: they needed to win, and they did, and looked assured in doing so. Palace were pretty hopeless, to be honest, and never recovered from that terrible start, but United played with authority in midfield, and they could have scored more goals. Mata, Rooney and Rashford were the pick of the United players, and Louis van Gaal’s team move just a point behind Arsenal, who host West Brom tomorrow.
9.49pm BST
That’s it.
9.49pm BST
90 min +3: Old Trafford has emptied extremely quickly. Palace have barely put together an attack.
9.48pm BST
90 min +2: Valencia gets clear on the right after nice work between Memphis and Blind, but Fellaini is whistled for climbing. That’s not like him.
9.47pm BST
90 min: Mata is nearly in, and his touch is perfect, but he’s crowded out by a posse of defenders and Palace clear. Three added minutes.
9.45pm BST
89 min: David de Gea has had such an easy night. He’s barely had anything to do. Palace have been so ineffective.
9.44pm BST
88 min: One disappointing aspect of United’s play tonight has been their crossing. They’ve been very impressive in possession, but if their final ball was better, this could have been four or five. Where’s David Beckham when you need him?
9.43pm BST
87 min: Memphis worries Kelly by the touchline and wins a corner after a lovely elastico, but he might have done better. The corner, predictably, is a waste of time.
9.42pm BST
85 min: Again, nice build-up from United, and Martial, this time on the right, is free in acres of space … and he spanks his cross out of play for a throw. Appalling.
9.40pm BST
84 min: United happy to keep the ball. But that’s an incisive pass from Herrera to set Valencia free – disappointingly for United, the cross was poor.
9.39pm BST
82 min: Palace look thoroughly disheartened. They don’t look like scoring. Weirdly, Palace have never beaten United in the Premier League.
9.37pm BST
81 min: Memphis goes for goal from the left, but Mariappa does well to get a toe on it and send it wide for a corner.
Taken short, and wasted.
9.36pm BST
80 min: Smalling and Mutch clash as Palace look to break, and for a moment Smalling looked like he was hurt, but he’ll be OK.
9.34pm BST
79 min: Memphis wins a corner after nice work from Darmian. The Dutchman takes it, and Smalling is nearly in! He just couldn’t quite get a toe on it. Final change for United: Fellaini on for Rooney, who receives warm applause.
9.32pm BST
77 min: Lovely combination between Mata, Herrera and Valencia, but Delaney is across to cover well. Valencia was nearly in.
9.31pm BST
76 min: Well, that tactical strategy is dead in the water, because Adebayor is replaced by Connor Wickham.
9.31pm BST
75 min: Palace win a free kick on halfway, and McArthur smacks it into the United box, where panic reigns, but Adebayor can’t quite make it count. Maybe that’s Palace’s best option: go direct, and hope Adebayor can get some joy against one of United’s full-backs.
9.29pm BST
74 min: I think I’m right in saying that Palace haven’t had a shot on target. Their display has been lame, in truth. Not the best warm-up for Sunday.
9.28pm BST
72 min: Mata takes it short, and nearly finds Lingard for a shooting chance on the end, but Palace do well to hustle it clear. Now Smalling attacks the second ball, but he can’t get the power, and it slips behind.
Ander Herrera is on for Jesse Lingard, who can look back on a solid night’s work.
9.27pm BST
71 min: Rooney fizzes one across goal, and Mariappa heads behind. Superb cross, and well defended. Corner.
9.26pm BST
70 min: Rooney looks crossfield for Valencia, who’s pushed up really high against Souaré, but the pass is overhit, and it’s a Palace throw. Twenty minutes to go, and United look in the mood for more goals.
9.24pm BST
67 min: It looks as though Martial is now playing through the centre. Memphis is wide left. United completely in charge of possession, and Palace look forlorn.
9.22pm BST
65 min: United seem to be enjoying themselves here. Put the flags up! Another change for Palace, and James McArthur is on for Cabaye.
9.20pm BST
64 min: Rashford receives a hearty reception from the United fans, and many hi-fives from the United bench. He’s been excellent tonight. Memphis is on in his place.
9.19pm BST
63 min: Sako goes for goal from about 35 miles out. It’s deflected off the wall, headed up in the air, and De Gea claims.
9.18pm BST
62 min: Oh, that should have been three! First Lingard, then Rashford, but Speroni does well, and then bollocks his defence for some slack play. Then Palace break, Darmian shoves Zaha, and the Italian is booked.
9.17pm BST
61 min: Mata and Lingard have switched positions effectively tonight: they’ve been at the heart of United’s best moments.
9.16pm BST
60 min: Jordon Mutch is on for Lee Chung-yong, who’s been quiet. Palace have been second best tonight.
9.15pm BST
58 min: Actually, I misspoke: Darmian’s goal wasn’t a volley – it was a bouncing ball. But he hit it really well. A goal and an assist tonight for the Italian.
9.13pm BST
56 min: That was Darmian’s first Manchester United goal, and what a goal it was. Such a pure strike! Speroni grasped thin air. Now United attack again, and Rooney finds Martial in the box, but Martial’s attempt is dreadful, and a mile over the bar.
9.12pm BST
55 min: United won a corner after Mata’s shot was tipped round by Speroni. Blind took it, it was headed clear, but Darmian chested it down, charged into the box, and hit a lovely, dipping volley with his left foot right into the top corner. No chance Speroni. That was brilliant!
9.11pm BST
What a beautiful goal!
9.10pm BST
52 min: Martial, who’s such a danger on the break, forces a corner. Blind with it, and it’s a good one but it’s well cleared. And then De Gea got lucky! Palace lumped it forward, and De Gea was right on the edge of his box, waiting for Darmian to deal with it, and Lee nearly nipped in! Mild panic for United.
9.08pm BST
49 min: So they take it short. Ha! And then Lingard, was it, does well to win it cleanly. Why didn’t Palace put the ball into the penalty area?
9.07pm BST
48 min: Better from Palace already. Kelly gets to the byline but Darmian does well to prevent the corner, and then Schneiderlin hacks clear. But then United give away a cheap free kick and this is a chance for Palace to get the ball in the box.
9.06pm BST
47 min: Sako and Adebayor combine nicely, but then Sako completely miskicks his forward pass, and Smalling comes across to mop up.
Here’s Peter Raleigh: “I’m always confused by this suggestion that Mourinho’s inflammatory, controversy-courting, my-way-or-the-highway approach is simply not the way things are done at Manchester United. Did I spend two decades watching a different Alex Ferguson?”
9.03pm BST
45 min: And we want something more from Palace. Can they test David de Gea?
9.03pm BST
And look at this for a final score from the Riazor: Deportivo 0-8 Barcelona. Suarez scored four. Unbelievable!
Related: Deportivo La Coruña 0-8 Barcelona: La Liga – as it happened
8.59pm BST
Elsewhere, Liverpool are cruising:
Related: Liverpool v Everton: Premier League – live!
8.58pm BST
Some emails:
Peter McMurry: “Is the argument of the anti-Van Gaal fans, ‘We’re sick of 1-0 victories, we need to bring back exciting and creative play, let’s hire Jose Mourinho? Because I’m not sure that’s likely to work out.
8.48pm BST
It’s a narrow advantage, but United have been well on top. Rashford, Martial and Lingard have been prominent, and were it not for a fine save from Speroni it could have been two. Palace haven’t really threatened in attack; an improvement is needed. See you shortly.
8.46pm BST
That’s the half.
8.46pm BST
45 min +1: Headed clear, and that should be that.
8.45pm BST
45 min: A minute of stoppage time. Corner to Palace right at the end.
8.44pm BST
44 min: Zaha’s shot from the set piece is blocked, and United look to break, but then Souaré absolutely steams in to a challenge on Mata with both feet! He played the ball, but his two feet were off the ground, and it was reckless: Lee Mason shows a yellow, but on another day that might have been red. That was dangerous.
8.43pm BST
42 min: Gah, that was a great chance for Palace! United gave it away cheaply, and Lee got free on the right with Adebayor all alone in the middle, but Lee delayed his pass a moment too long, and Smalling got back to recover. Corner.
8.41pm BST
41 min: But that’s short, and it’s such a waste. Behind for a goal kick.
8.40pm BST
40 min: Great save by Speroni! A lucky ricochet sends Martial clear, and he absolutely thrashes it with his left foot, but that’s a super save from the Argentinian to push it round the post. Corner.
8.39pm BST
39 min: Now Lingard has a go! Great interplay between Lingard and Mata, and then Rashford dummies, brilliantly, but Lingard’s shot from 15 yards was straight at Speroni. He might have done better with that.
8.38pm BST
38 min: Rashford gets free in the box and stings Speroni’s palms. Corner.
8.38pm BST
37 min: Palace are doing OK, but they haven’t created much in attack. Zaha looks their most likely creator: he’s worried Darmian on more than one occasion.
Justin Kavanagh presents an alternative view: “I’d disagree with JR (in Illinois?): I think Van Gaal’s brand of football has calcified in his old age into Totalitarian Football. Even when marching toward certain defeat, every player must stick rigidly to the formation dictated by their leader from his bunker.”
8.36pm BST
35 min: United are in control here, but that 1-0 lead is slender. Maybe they’ll do the unthinkable and score two goals in a league match. Rashford attacks down the left, thrillingly, but he just gets his trick wrong and it bobbles over the line for a goal kick.
8.34pm BST
33 min: Then a curious moment: United attacked down the left, and Martial’s cross was put behind by Delaney, but it’s given as a goal kick. A series of strange decisions. Bring back Roger Milford.
8.32pm BST
32 min: Great long pass from Cabaye for Zaha, who goes past Darmian and then is pushed to the ground by the Italian – but Lee Mason says no foul! Zaha can’t believe it: that was a clear foul.
8.30pm BST
31 min: Rashford does well to get into the box, and Mata goes on the outside, but Rashford’s ball is overhit, and it’s a goal kick, although it probably should have been a corner – I think it came off Delaney last.
8.29pm BST
29 min: A slight lull. Palace happy to keep possession for a spell. United on top.
8.27pm BST
28 min: Rooney looks for Valencia on the right, but the Ecuadorian is offside.
Here’s JR: “I can’t figure out what United are doing. I look up and see Mata on the right with Lingard in the hole, then Mata is playing deep. If I knew more about tactics I might say Van Gaal has no idea what the hell he is doing. If I had to name his style I would call it Total Crap Football.”
8.27pm BST
27 min: Mariappa trips Mata, clumsily, and United have a free kick 35 yards from goal. No yellow card – it could have been one.
Rooney’s ball in is headed clear. That was a waste.
8.25pm BST
25 min: Lingard feeds Rooney, who thrashes one from 20 yards, but he doesn’t quite get hold of it, and Speroni saves.
8.25pm BST
23 min: Blind comes forward into that kind of left-half position, but his ball in is repelled by Palace. Now the visitors attack, and Zaha does really well to beat Darmian, but he can’t find the pass and United hack clear.
8.22pm BST
22 min: Again, Martial leads the charge for United after Palace had committed men upfield, but Lingard couldn’t quite control the pass. Now Martial cuts in and shoots – but Speroni beats it away! Decent save, but one he should have made.
8.20pm BST
21 min: Great play from Valencia, charging into the box, but he couldn’t quite pick out a red shirt. Again, United were a bit slow in getting support to their team-mate.
8.19pm BST
20 min: Unlucky from Martial, who ran away from Kelly – the former Liverpool man is on a yellow card, remember – but then lost his footing as he got to the byline. Nonetheless, positive, direct running from Martial.
8.18pm BST
19 min: Souaré thought he was fouled in United’s right-back slot, but ref Lee Mason said Lingard got the ball. Play on.
8.17pm BST
17 min: Long pass from Blind looks for Martial over the top, but that’s good defending from Mariappa, and Palace clear the danger. Blind’s such a good passer, isn’t he, and he reads the game so well, but is central defence really his best position? Answers please!
8.16pm BST
15 min: Sly foul from the bearded Jedinak as Rooney looked to break, but no foul. Palace have found their feet somewhat after that feeble start.
8.14pm BST
13 min: This has been a decent start by Man United. Just looking back at the goal: Darmian’s cross wasn’t really extra dangerous, but Delaney was the wrong side of the ball, just kind of stuck out a leg, and thrashed it past Speroni, who couldn’t react in time. Deeply shoddy from Delaney.
8.12pm BST
11 min: Rashford tries one from the edge. It’s blocked, but United pick up the second ball, and Palace are pinned back.
Peter Crosby wants the moon on a stick: “Hi Tim, since the West Ham game doesn’t appear to merit its own MBM, is there any internal remit that would prevent you from sharing key moments on this thread? I’d do it myself but, well, I can’t be bothered. Cheers, Peter.”
8.10pm BST
9 min: Oh, that was a chance for Adebayor! Zaha went at Darmian, crossed high, Lee headed it back across goal, but Adebayor couldn’t adjust quickly enough, and he kind of shinned it wide from 12 yards. Decent chance; the United marking was slack.
8.08pm BST
7 min: Palace just need to steady themselves. They could do with a spell of possession. Mata strikes one from the edge of the box, but it’s easy for Speroni.
Incidentally, it does look like Rooney is playing a little deeper than Mata. Lingard has started on the right side.
8.07pm BST
6 min: Kelly pulls back Martial as he streaks clear, and is booked. Then Mata looks for Rooney in the box, and it’s headed behind for a corner. United pressuring the Palace defence here.
8.06pm BST
5 min: Well, what a start from United – and what a dreadful moment from Damien Delaney. United had the ball on the left, Darmian crossed and Delaney, facing his own goal, just speared one past Speroni from about 12 yards. There was only one United shirt in the penalty area. A terrible error, and United lead!
8.04pm BST
Oh my word.
8.02pm BST
3 min: Schneiderlin is whistled for a foul on Zaha on halfway. A bit unlucky, perhaps – it look like he took the ball. Palace hit it forward but it’s easily cleared.
8.01pm BST
2 min: Easy possession for United so far. Palace have everyone back behind the ball.
8.00pm BST
1 min: Right on time. United, in classic red, white and black, get us going. Palace are all white with the red and blue sash.
7.58pm BST
We’re a couple of minutes away. Alan Pardew is wearing a big coat. He looks relaxed.
7.55pm BST
Here’s Aalim Khaderi: “It does look like a 4-2-3-1 to me, but I find it difficult to see Mata in a deep lying role. Maybe Rooney drops into holding midfield with Mata pushed up to the No10 role?”
Yeah, maybe that’s it. We shall see!
7.54pm BST
The tactical approach from United should be interesting tonight: just one what we might call “pure” midfielder in Schneiderlin, and five attackers who can play in a variety of roles. Maybe we’ll see Rooney in a deeper central role?
7.49pm BST
Ian Stewart emails: “Given everyone wants Van Gaal to fail, is this the first time that the whole of Croydon will be supporting Palace?”
Zing!
7.48pm BST
Here’s Simon Horwell: “You might be amazed at the amount of United supporters that would welcome a fifth place finish if it guaranteed Van Gaal being sacked and Mourinho being brought in.
“It’s hard, as a lifelong fan, to watch a game hoping for a win, but knowing that a fourth place finish might mean keeping the stubborn tulip. United is in such a sorry state right now, that it isn’t just LVG whose head should be on the chopping block, it’s Woodward’s too. Naivety in the transfer market, and awful managerial appointments, that almost all fans called as awful at the time. Hopefully he rumours of an internal power struggle involving Fergie and the CO92, and their bid to have Giggs installed as manager, are wide of the mark; because if successful, it almost guarantees another few years of abject mediocrity.
7.46pm BST
West Ham and Watford have just kicked off. The Hammers are three points behind Man United, but with a better goal difference.
7.43pm BST
Weather update: it’s nice!
The sun's out at Old Trafford this evening! #mufc pic.twitter.com/LaNbRkKVUF
7.38pm BST
Palace do look more like a conventional 4-2-3-1, with Jedinak and Cabaye patrolling the space in front of the back four, and Adebayor the furthest forward.
7.36pm BST
Back to Old Trafford. Here’s Mayur Gupta: “Hi Tim, strange United line-up – is it a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or even a 3-5-2?
“My guess is it’s a 4-1-4-1, with Schneiderlin the deep-lying midfielder, and Mata and Rooney centrally supported by Lingard and Martial on the flanks, with Rashford up top.”
7.30pm BST
If Spanish football is more your thing, don’t worry: we’ve got lots of that, too. Barcelona are faltering, and they’ve got a tricky away fixture in Galicia. Tom Bryant has the latest:
Related: Deportivo La Coruña v Barcelona: La Liga – live!
7.24pm BST
Not far from Old Trafford, Liverpool are preparing for their inevitable home victory over Everton. The Toffees haven’t won at Anfield since 1999, and if you’ve watched Everton recently, you’d be pretty confident of that winless run continuing. Follow it live with Barry Glendenning:
Related: Liverpool v Everton: Premier League – live!
7.21pm BST
So, changes. Matteo Darmian comes in at left-back for Marcos Rojo, and Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard return in place of Marouane Fellaini and Memphis. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is on the bench.
Palace shake things up, too, before their big cup tie against Watford on Sunday. Julian Speroni starts in goal, and Adrian Mariappa, Chung-yong Lee, Bakary Sako and Wilf Zaha are all included. Luke Dreher, 17, is among the substitutes.
7.09pm BST
Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Mata, Rooney, Lingard, Martial, Rashford. Subs: Rojo, Depay, Young, Romero, Ander Herrera, Fellaini, Fosu-Mensah.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Kelly, Mariappa, Delaney, Souare, Cabaye, Jedinak, Zaha, Lee, Sako, Adebayor. Subs: Campbell, McCarthy, McArthur, Wickham, Mutch, Puncheon, Dreher.
7.08pm BST
The first of two big games for Man United; this week could define their season. On Saturday they travel to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final against Everton, but today they face Palace in the Premier League, and only a win will do if they want to play in the Champions League next year. United, in fifth, are four points behind Arsenal with five games to play, and a top-four spot is still within reach, but they can’t afford any more slip-ups. They need to win tonight.
It’s all relative, of course, but United been improved in recent weeks, save that abysmal 10 minutes against Tottenham when Fosu-Mensah went off, Darmian came on, and everything seemed to go to pieces. Wins against Man City and West Ham were vital, and deserved, Rashford and Martial continue to impress, and now Wayne Rooney is back after two months out with injury. Admittedly, they remain largely impotent in front of goal – 13th-placed Bournemouth have scored more Premier League goals than United this season – but fifth place seems about right for this current United squad. Doesn’t it?
3.36pm BST
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Paul Wilson on a dilemma for Manchester United fans:
Van Gaal understands that his job might be on the line if Champions League football cannot be secured and, as he must, he is trying to ensure that United get as close to the target as possible so as to be able to profit from any further slips by the teams above them. But given the commonly held view that fourth place equals success and another season for the manager, whereas finishing lower down the league would be an opportunity for the board to say thanks but no thanks and find someone else capable of taking the club forward, where would supporters themselves like to see United finish at the end of the season?
Related: Do Manchester United fans want fourth if it means Louis van Gaal stays? | Paul Wilson
Continue reading...