Manchester United lost ground on those above them as they were held to a draw in tonight’s game at Selhurst Park. They had been in cruise control for most of the game after a first-half strike from Bruno Fernandes. They will be left regretting the lack of a second goal after conceding a late goal to the home side. They go joint second for now but have played a game more than both sides above them.
Delight for Crystal Palace and their fans though. It had seemed to be another game in which they had given plenty of effort but failed to make the most of their chances. Especially after two wonderful saves by David de Gea to deny them in each half. Michael Olise was the man to have the final word with a special free kick. They will hope it gives their inconsistent season a push-start.
Both managers elected to make changes because of the fixture pile-up. Patrick Viera had Joachim Anderson due to injury so American international Chris Richards made his first Premier start. Jeffrey Schlupp, Eberechi Eze and Jordan Ayew dropped to the bench to be replaced by Will Hughes, Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Erik ten Hag gave recent loan signing, Wout Weghorst, his first start. He replaced the injured Anthony Martial. Lisandro Martinez and Antony took the place of Fred and Tyrell Malacia.
United started the brighter of the two back by their recent form. Marcus Rashford found some space to run into before he was crowded out. Another break-out from a Palace attack led to a chance for the debutante Weghorst. The cross into the centre was just ahead of him which allowed Vicente Guaita to claim the ball. A ball was then played over the top to Rashford who shot tamely into the hands of Guaita. He had realised he was offside though.
Lisandro Martinez was down after taking a knock to the head in a collision with Odsonne Edouard. He was deemed okay to continue after treatment. The best opportunity came when interplay between Christian Eriksen and Casemiro before a through-ball to Luke Shaw. His cross was overhit but Aaron Wan-Bissaka was able to recycle it back to the other full-back. He let the ball bounce before unleashing a volley that went just wide.
Weghorst set up a chance for Casemiro that was blocked before his header from Shaw cross landed on top of the net. Palace then had the best opportunity to take the lead. Edouard collected the ball from a Michael Olise pass, held off Raphael Varane and hammered in a shot. It was headed towards the top corner before David De Gea tipped it onto the post.
Just when it seemed both sides were going to be going into the break scoreless, United struck. Eriksen and Rashford played a one-two before the former laid it off to Bruno Fernandes. He was unmarked and took a touch before placing the ball past Guaita from the penalty spot.
He almost got a second straight away in the second-half. Wan-Bissaka surged down to right before playing in the midfielder. His shot was cleared off the line on this occasion by Will Hughes. United seemed to be content to try and keep the ball away from Palace, without really going for the jugular. It made for a frustrating watch as too often the passing lacked the precision and urgency of the previous weeks.
Scott McTominay came off the bench and almost made an immediate impact. He ran onto a through-ball in the box, knocked it past Chris Richards and went to ground. Despite vigorous claims for a penalty, VAR adjudged that the defender had got the ball as well as the player. Given the furore over the Fernandes goal on Saturday, it seems decisions were going against us. It almost cost Utd shortly after when Olise emerged through a crowd of players to plant a header goal-ward. De Gea was again to the rescue.
Casemiro was booked in a late challenge to rule him out of the Arsenal game at the weekend. Ten Hag was visibly frustrated as he was set to substitute him shortly afterwards. He was left even more frustrated when Palace struck for the equaliser in injury time. They won a free kick about 30 yards out on the right-hand side. Olise stepped up to curl it over the wall and into the very top corner via the bar. De Gea hand no chance with it.
Incredibly Casemiro almost won it at the other end. United won a corner straight away, it was swung in and the Brazilian just failed to make proper contact on it from 6 yards out. Wan-Bissaka had to stop Wilfred Zaha in his tracks at the other end to prevent a loss.
The first dropped points of the calendar year meaning frustration for players, management, and fans. Next up is another trip to London to face the current league leaders, Arsenal, on Sunday at 16.30. Palace have another home game as they take on Newcastle on Saturday at 17.30.
Crystal Palace: Vicente Guaita; Nathanial Clyne, Chris Richards, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, Cheick Doucoure (Jeffrey Schlupp 71), Will Hughes (Luka Milivojevic 84), Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta (Eberechi Eze 58); Wilfred Zaha, Odsonne Edouard (Jordan Ayew 71)
Subs not used: Sam Johnstone, Joel Ward, James Tompkins, Jairo Riedewald, David Ozoh
Manchester Utd: David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Carlos Casemiro, Cristian Eriksen (Fred 83), Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Antony (Alejandro Garnacho 69), Wout Weghorst (Scott McTominay 69)
Subs not used: Tom Heaton, Victor Lindelof, Anthony Elanga, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Facundo Pellistri
Referee: Robert Jones
Attendance: 35,853