Manchester United vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the fallout from United’s 1-0 win over Palace at Old Trafford
The Ralf Rangnick era is under way and has an unlikely first hero, though perhaps a fitting one too. If this interim interregnum is all about taking players who appeared broken under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and repairing, repurposing and restoring them, then who better to get things going than Fred?
The much-maligned Manchester United midfielder was injuring his own goalkeeper on this ground only three days ago. Now, on the occasion of Rangnick’s first game in temporary charge, he was a match-winner, serenaded to a Joy Division tune by those still sat in the Stretford End while doing his post-match media duties. David de Gea’s ankles aren’t the only thing he is tearing apart now.
You can add a stubborn though largely second-best Crystal Palace to that list. Patrick Vieira’s side held out for 77 minutes only to be defeated by Fred’s uncharacteristically spectacular strike from range. This could all have taken on a very complexion if Jordan Ayew had converted one of this game’s few genuine chances just minutes earlier but, even so, it was a win that United just about deserved. Full report by Mark Critchley here.
Follow all the fallout from the game, the first look at United under Rangnick.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
45 mins: One added minute to play at the end of the first half. Can someone break the deadlock before the half-time break?
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
42 mins: Fernandes tracks back to chase down a run from Zaha on the inside right channel. He lunges at the Crystal Palace star and brings him down.
Conor Gallagher swings the free kick into the penalty area where Benteke and Maguire tussle with each other to get to the ball and it’s the Manchester United captain who wins it in the air and heads the ball away.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
39 mins: Jordan Ayew brings the ball inside from the right and sends a shot at De Gea who easily keeps it out. Again the home side fly forward on the left wing before Telles curls a cross into the box. Ronaldo is the target but Guehi jumps in front of him and heads it away.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
36 mins: Crystal Palace are sacrificing space on the wings to maintain a tight line across the front of the penalty area. United have had some success with a few balls over the top but they’ve not been able to play through Palace yet.
For their part when the Eagles have the ball they’ve slowed the tempo of the game and are looking to string together a few passes before finding wither Zaha or Benteke up top.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
33 mins: Nathanial Clyne takes the ball around Rashford and sprints into midfield. He loses control of it and slides into a challenge on Fred to win it back. Clyne scrapes a foot down the back of Fred’s ankle and picks up a yellow card. Fred’s back of his feet though and he’ll play on.
Chance! There seems to be so much space in the wide areas for United. Maguire floats the free kick out to Sancho on the left. He brings the ball down, darts into the box and flicks a shot onto the roof of the Crystal Palace goal.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
30 mins: Ronaldo meets a corner ball from Telles with a header from the middle of the box. His effort is blocked but he appeals for a handball that referee Craig Pawson ha no interest in. The ball comes out to Fernandes who tries to keep the attack going with a chipped pass towards the left-hand post but he can’t pick out a teammate and the ball goes out of play.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
27 mins: Save! United are really turning up the heat now. Ronaldo receives the ball on the right side and lays it off to Fernandes. He brings it into the box and shoots forcing another sharp save out of Guaita.
Fernandes and Ronaldo are combine again as United attack from the left this time. The pass comes to Fernandes who makes a darting run into the box. He lets it roll to Ronaldo who can’t quite bring it under control in the six-yard area before Palace clear the danger.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
24 mins: Save! Lovely play from Man Utd. Dalot gets forward on the right wing and whips an early cross into the box. Ronaldo hangs it the air to meet the ball but times his jump too early and the ball goes over his head. Jadon Sancho keeps it alive and pulls the ball back to the front edge of the box where Fred arrives and drills a left-footed strike at goal and forces Guaita into a leaping stop to his right.
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