Report: United 0 Palace 1

Saturday 30 September 2023 17:00

Manchester United were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Old Trafford, with Joachim Andersen's first-half strike proving decisive.

Despite going close through Rasmus Hojlund, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Mason Mount across the 90 minutes in M16, it was the Eagles who emerged victorious, after defending resolutely to protect their slender advantage.

With the south Londoners avenging their midweek defeat in the third round of the Carabao Cup at the Theatre of Dreams, Erik ten Hag's side couldn't find a vital breakthrough and thus suffered a fourth league defeat of the season.
Mason Mount retains possession under pressure from Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew.
FIRST HALF - PALACE HIT THE FRONT

Casemiro entered the book in the early stages at Old Trafford, after felling Palace forward Jordan Ayew, as he attempted to race through on goal. Moments later, the visitors went close to opening the scoring through England international Marc Guehi, after his headed effort on goal narrowly flashed wide of the mark, following Anderson's cross.

Searching for his first goal at Old Trafford, Hojlund almost made it 1-0 to the Reds soon after, with his effort cleared off the line in the nick of time by Tyrick Mitchell, after the Denmark striker nudged the ball past the onrushing Sam Johnstone.

Mount cleverly collected the ball in midfield as Ten Hag's side continued to dominate the early exchanges. Laying the ball into the feet of Hojlund, and with Marcus Rashford to his left, he opted to go alone, before seeing his effort fly into the lower section of the Stretford End.

But it was to be Roy Hodgson's men who went ahead, as United momentarily switched off in defence. Eberechi Eze's set-piece from the right somehow found its way through to Andersen at the back post, who rifled home a right-footed effort past Andre Onana to give Palace the lead.

Rashford looked to try to restore parity almost instantly, with his cross finding Diogo Dalot on the edge of the area. Our no.20 in turn nodded the ball down to Casemiro, who saw his snapshot flash just wide of the post.
SECOND HALF - NO WAY BACK

Casemiro found himself searching for goal number five of the season with just eight minutes of the second half gone. A neat cross from Dalot eventually found its way over to the Brazilian, with his acrobatic attempt failing to test Johnstone.

The former Reds Academy product was finally tested, as he wonderfully leapt into the air to keep out captain Fernandes's long-range piledriver. He then repelled Hojlund's header seconds later, as the Reds continued to up the ante.

A searching pass from the left attempted to pick out Rashford as we reached the hour mark in M16, before the ball unintentionally struck the hand of Palace captain Joel Ward. The VAR officials at Stockley Park must have taken a closer look at the incident, but no further action was taken, despite frantic appeals.

Jean-Philippe Mateta won the ball back on the by-line as the visitors attempted to double their lead. The Eagles no.14 picked out midfielder Will Hughes on the edge of area before his shot from the edge of the area was palmed away by Onana.

As we reached the 70-minute mark, Dalot burst forward well and dug out a cross which found Mount. Our no.7 met the delivery but saw his headed effort frustratingly fly wide of the goal.

Ten Hag's men probed once more with time ticking down, this time through substitute Alejandro Garnacho. His ball flashed across the six-yard area, and cannoned off both Anderson and then Mitchell, as Palace again survived our late onslaught.

Another cross into the area looked to be looping in as we entered the final knockings of the game, with Garnacho's strike charged down and cleared by Roy Hodgson's side, who held out in the four minutes of stoppage time to get the three points.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Onana, Dalot, Lindelof (Van de Beek, 88), Varane (Maguire, 87), Amrabat; Casemiro, Mount (Martial, 61); Rashford (Eriksen, 77), Fernandes, Pellistri (Garnacho, 61); Hojlund.

Subs not used: Bayindir, Evans, Hannibal, McTominay.

Booked: Casemiro, Mount, Amrabat.

Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Doucoure, Hughes, Ayew, Eze (Richards, 88) Mateta, Schlupp (Riedewald, 78).

Subs not used: Matthews, Holding, Clyne, Ebiowei, Rak-Sakyi, Ozoh, Ola-Adebomi.

Booked: Hughes, Ward.

Goals: Andersen 25.

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