SELHURST PARK WELCOMED Louis van Gaal’s men for Saturday’s late Premier League game.
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Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League’s late kick-off as Manchester United travel to Crystal Palace hoping to avoid four straight defeats.
Kick-off is a little over half an hour away and both team sheets are in. Here’s how Palace will line-up this evening:
The big news is that neither Angel di Maria (injury) or Robin van Persie (ill) will be involved.
Louis van Gaal’s side shows two changes from the one that lost to West Brom last time out with Luke Shaw and Phil Jones in for van Persie and Paddy McNair.
United fans, what do you make of today’s team? The official word is both di Maria and van Persie are absent through injury and illness but is it another indication they could be heading towards the Old Trafford exit door?
Wayne Rooney will spearhead the attack once again while there’s another defensive reshuffle with Jones and Shaw in.
Elsewhere, Burnley have just been relegated despite winning at Hull this afternoon. We’ll have a full round-up on the site shortly.
Here’s a quick look at the top half of the Barclays Premier League. Chelsea, as we know, have already been crowned champions but the race for Champions League football could yet go down to the wire.
United’s recent dip has given Liverpool hope but van Gaal’s side know they are in control of their own fate. They require six points from their remaining three outings to guarantee themselves of a top four spot. United may, however, not need as many depending on how Liverpool go tomorrow against Chelsea.
While we’re waiting for the action to get under way, let’s check on today’s other results which had a huge bearing on matters at the other end of the table.
- Everton 0-2 Sunderland
- Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
- Hull 0-1 Burnley
- Leicester 2-0 Southampton
- Newcastle 1-1 West Brom
- Stoke 3-0 Tottenham
Louis van Gaal confirms to Sky Sports that Angel di Maria injured himself in training on Wednesday while Rooney will play as the lone striker at Selhurst Park.
The United boss admits his side need to start converting their possession into goals but believes they also need some more luck on front of goal.
After today’s results, Crystal Palace are now mathematically safe and their manager, Alan Pardew, admits to Sky Sports they will release the shackles and have ‘a real go’ at Man United.
Jason Puncheon has been dropped to the bench today because, according to his manager, his ‘levels have dropped’ recently but could Wilfried Zaha punish his former club?
Pardew certainly has plenty of options going forward with Jordan Mutch, Frazier Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and Puncheon all waiting in the wings if needed.
It certainly won’t be an easy evening in the capital for United. Kick-off is imminent.
History is certainly on United’s side in this particular fixture but Palace have nothing to lose and will no doubt throw everything at a fragile Red Devils rearguard.
It’s a glorious evening in Croydon and, as you’d expect, Selhurst Park is hopping. Both sides are out on the pitch and we’ve just the formalities to complete before the action gets under way.
Here’s a quick look at the benches available to Pardew and van Gaal should they need to call on reinforcements.
The visitors have started on the front foot but Palace are compact in defence and will try and make it difficult for United to find pockets of space in the final third.
Glenn Murray plays a perfectly weighted ball for Bolasie to run onto but Luke Shaw just stepped up in time and the assistant correctly raised his flag. That will be an interesting duel down this left hand side.
United win an early corner as Herrera sets Valencia free down the right. The full-back does well to get there ahead of Ward and his cross is deflected behind despite the best efforts of Julian Speroni.
The resulting set-piece comes to nothing but United retain possession.
A couple of players have lost their footing in the early minutes and the pitch looks quite long. Perhaps a tactic by the hosts to stifle United’s passing game?
POST! Nobody closes Daley Blind down and he tries his luck from range but Speroni is equal to it as he pushes it onto the post.
United have started brightly as they look to silence the boisterous home supporters.
Palace seem happy to sit back and absorb the pressure. The plan will surely be to try and hit United on the break with players such as Zaha and Bolasie offering pace on either wing.
Young skips past Ward far too easily but the England international’s delivery is poor as he over hits his cross.
First opening for Zaha but he’s forced wide by Valencia and after eventually creating a yard to find a cross, his ball is too far for anyone in a red and blue shirt.
At the other end, Herrera has pop at goal but the angle is always against him and his effort skews well wide of Speroni’s upright. United have already enjoyed 73% of the possession.
First real chance for Zaha to run at Valencia and he skips past the United full-back with ease before standing an inviting cross towards the back post but Jones just about deals with it.
Young is then perhaps fortunate to win a free-kick just outside his own box with Bolasie sniffing around.
PENALTY! Man United
Scott Dann is adjudged to have handled Young’s cross and the referee points to the spot.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Man United (Mata)
With Rooney off penalty duties, Juan Mata is given the responsibility and the Spaniard makes no mistake as he slots low into the corner.
Dann tried to block the cross but leaned towards the ball and it strikes him on the right arm. Palace were not happy but you can see why the referee gave it.
That was United’s first goal in 306 minutes of Premier League football and they nearly got a second shortly after but Herrera was unable to keep his effort down twelve yards out.
Palace look to hit back instantly as Jedinak rises highest from a corner but after doing the hard work to lose his marker, the Palace captain heads wide.
Silly foul by Mata on the edge of the area gives Palace a dangerous free. The United goalscorer had two nibbles at Zaha but the training ground set-piece is eventually dealt with by the visitors.
Going forward, United look in the mood this evening but once again they are fragile at the back. That last move saw Palace work the free wide before Dann knocked it down for Murray but Jones intervened to avert the danger.
A period of United possession ends when Valencia comes infield and slips. Despite their lead, it’s much of the same for van Gaal’s side as they enjoy plenty of possession but aren’t doing a lot with it.
At the other end, Palace fans want a penalty when Ward is eased off the ball by Fellaini in the box. Michael Oliver isn’t interested, however, and waves away the appeals.
The United trainer is on and Jonny Evans is preparing himself on the bench. Luke Shaw is the player down and it appears to be a head injury as the stretcher comes on. He looked a bit groggy just before he went down and you can’t take any risks.
Replays show Glenn Murray accidentally elbowed the full-back in the face. Rooney, meanwhile, has been struggling with a groin complaint and is still trying to run the knock off.
Here’s the moment Juan Mata fired United into the lead:
United want another penalty. Rooney volleys Young’s cross against Damien Delaney’s arm but the defender could do nothing about that given he was just a yard away from Rooney.
Phil Jones has switched to left-back after Shaw’s withdrawal. Bolasie will fancy his chances down this right hand side and Palace should try and get the ball wide at every opportunity.
CHANCE! Valencia embarks on a mazy run down the right and lays it off for Herrera to cross. The delivery evades Rooney but falls at the feet of the unmarked Fellaini at the back post but the Belgian can’t control and the chance is gone.
Palace are finishing the half strongly as a corner is followed by a succession of crosses. Jonny Evans is caught in possession but Smalling does well to head clear under pressure from Murray.
It’s been a frustrating season for Shaw after his move from Southampton. The England international has completed the full 90 minutes just eight times this campaign.
Bolasie crosses for Murray and the striker swivels but sees his shot blocked by Smalling. That should be it for the first-half.
And Michael Oliver brings the first period to an end. The home fans aren’t happy as the players leave the field, directing their anger towards the officials.
The big talking point of the half was the penalty. In the Sky studio, Thierry Henry believes the referee makes the right call while Jamie Redknapp questions how Michael Oliver could see the incident through a couple of players.
You can watch the goal here.
Wayne Rooney was back out on the pitch before everyone else with a trainer going through what looked like a fitness test. The United captain was struggling with a groin injury and it appears he won’t be able to continue.
Radamel Falcao is being prepared. Palace are also making a change with Jason Puncheon coming on for Joe Ledley.
Palace have started brightly as they search for a route back into this game. Puncheon has already made a difference as he releases Souare down the left. Glenn Murray tries to get on front of his marker and divert the low cross in and the near post but the angle is too tight.
Palace are winning all the 50/50 duels and have United on the back foot. Bolasie and Zaha are pinging crosses in at every opportunity but Smalling has dealt with them all so far.
Palace are furious again. It’s poor defending from Mata initially as he turns his back on Puncheon and the United goalscorer then comes back and appears to trip Puncheon but Oliver is unmoved. Replays suggest there was certainly contact but the Palace winger’s emphasised fall to the ground may have convinced the referee otherwise.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Man United (Puncheon)
It was coming. Smalling is penalised for grappling with Murray and from the free, Puncheon curls it past de Gea via a slight deflection off Daley Blind.
For the second time in two games, United’s wall were to blame for the concession of a soft goal. Blind was at the end of the wall but puts his hand on front of his face and the ball skims his head to loop over de Gea.
It was Palace’s first goal in four matches and now Selhurst Park is bouncing.
More penalty appeals as Jedinak feels he’s tugged by Valencia but again the referee isn’t interested. United simply haven’t come out after the break and are all over the place.
Smalling is left in no man’s land by a sloppy pass and McArthur has Murray free to his right but opts to go alone and his low effort goes narrowly wide with de Gea scrambling.
Palace scent blood and they are applying the pressure by pushing high up the pitch.
Not sure Falcao has touched the ball since he’s come on. To be fair, United have been under the cosh in this second-half but he needs to try and make something happen. Talk about the perfect time to make an impact.
WHAT A SAVE! How many times has David de Gea bailed United out this season? Murray has to score and inflict more woe on Louis van Gaal’s side but he is thwarted from five yards by the Spanish goalkeeper.
De Gea is called into action again as McArthur’s pinpoint cross finds Zaha at the back post and the winger shoots first time but it’s straight at the ‘keeper.
This time it’s United’s turn to go close. Young powers past Ward, drives into the box and then sees his effort trickle agonisingly wide off Dann.
United are unable to clear after Valencia is forced to concede a corner. The ball eventually falls invitingly for Delaney on the edge of the area but his effort is wild.
End to end now as Young drives down the left and cuts it back for Mata but a slight deflection on the way through makes it difficult for the former Chelsea man and he skies his volley.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Man United (Fellaini)
Young has caused untold problems for Ward and its his cross which catches Speroni out and Fellaini arrives at the back post to head home into the empty net.
Young has been superb all afternoon and Ward has been unable to contain him. On that occasion, he cut back inside rather than going doing the line and Young sent over a floated cross for Fellaini to restore United’s lead.
But it was poor goalkeeping from Speroni who came and found himself in no man’s land.
Evans has been off the pace since his introduction and he’s caught out again which leads to a Palace corner in front of their passionate fans but it comes to nothing.
Chris Smalling trudges off and Paddy McNair is his replacement. Pardew makes two changes as he looks to throw everything at United. Jedinak makes way for Chung-Yong Lee and Chamakh comes on for Zaha.
SAVE! De Gea called upon again as he denies Murray with another fine stop. The striker turns McNair and does everything right but the ‘keeper is in inspired form as he saves with his feet.
Palace continue to file forward and you have to feel they’ll get at least one more chance. This is the goal that separates the sides. Speroni won’t want to see this again:
Gary Neville has given Ashley Young the man of the match award despite de Gea’s heroics. Young has been involved in both goals and has been a constant threat down the United left.
Herrera, meanwhile, nearly seals the win with a sweet volley after Falcao’s ball through but Speroni tips it over the bar.
There will be four minutes of injury time. Palace send it long and Valencia concedes a needless free-kick to give the hosts the chance to load the box.
Anxious moments for United as we enter the final stages. De Gea relieves the pressure by plucking a cross out of the air to take the sting out of Palace’s late onslaught.
Into the final minute now and United are trying to wind down the clock by keeping hold of possession. Young forces Ward to concede the throw and the visitors are nearly there.
And that’s it! United end their losing streak but they’ve had to grind it out here and Louis van Gaal’s side are now within touching distance of a return to the Champions League.
If Chelsea beat Liverpool tomorrow, United are assured of a top four finish.
Hope he does well with Bath but glad he is gone. Never looked like a top class coach.
@Blindside: i wonder will he bring any of the current squad with him.
Nevermind outsider influence in Wessels, we’ve tried the south African style of rugby and its pants. Just started to get away from it too but now larkham has upped sticks… Bring Prendergast home, give him what and who he wants and give munster back some bit of an identity.
@Michael Oats: Prendergast as Head Coach with Jackman on his coaching team is the way to go.
@David Finn: Why Jackman? He didn’t exactly set the world on fire at either Grenoble or Dragons. Also GR is a fine forwards coach imo.
@David Finn: christ no, not jackman. He’s best served as an analyst. Coaching hasn’t really played out for the guy, sure he couldn’t even keep bective rangers up in the AIL with a massive budget
@David Finn: LMAO. Jackman no thanks
@TL55: in fairness he did well enough at Grenoble. Dragons fair enough but that was always a bit high risk
@Michael Oats: Bernard stepped in after Bective dropped out of AIL in 2019. Bective are in the mix to go back up this year. Bernard is doing a great job and we are grateful to have him!
@Harry Leahy: last job = junior rugby. Would it be fair to say there’s a massive jump up to coaching a provincial side? And how much coin has he thrown around since 2019 he would want to be getting them in the top half of the table
@Michael Oats: “he couldn’t even keep bective rangers up in AIL”. He came in after we went down. I take my hat off to him for getting involved in Junior Rugby and doing something very positive. He attends every 2nds league match and much more besides. He is huge addition to our club, we are lucky to have him.
I will let others judge him on his professional record but not knock him for his involvement with Bective and Community Rugby.
@Harry Leahy: he attends every seconds league match….. As does every coach who’s training a first xv at every club in the country. He’s not doing it for the love of the community at all for god sake, 60 bags of sand per annum and still can’t get up. Come on now, give over a small bit
It’s not Munster’s style to be airing background stuff in public, hope a cap is put on it now ,whole scenario is turning toxic and very unprofessional.
Would love to see Conor O’Shea in as a director of rugby. I know he’s recently gotten a high up position with the RFU but I think he would be an ideal candidate. With Prendergast as a head/attacking coach.
@Leroy Jenkins: Agreed, looks like we need a steadying influence now with all the toxic stuff behind this.
@Leroy Jenkins: That’s probably a very good shout and one of the best suggestions I’ve seen over the last few months.
@Leroy Jenkins: probably the first smart comment I’ve seen here in a while
Thanks JVG but maybe everyone would agree he has taken this team as far as he could and its time for change for both he and the team ….love to have ROG but URC might be a step backwards for a Top14 coach
It’s pretty shocking that this magic clause exists in these contracts for sharks like Erasmus to exploit. Did Munster not learn from previous mistakes? Van Gran has looked after number one which he is entitled do …. Yet another journeyman South African coach shafting Munster . The time is right to give an Irishman the job. We seem to be enamoured in this country with foreign talent when we have loads of good candidates who are almost entitled to the job…. My vote would be prendergast….
@Davedental: every player and every coach is a “journeyman”. It’s what they do when they are in the job that counts
If ROG came back do you think this would be his last job?
For the record I think ROG is way to ambitious to come to Munster now. There are other mountains to climb for him before he would even countenance moving to Munster I feel.
@Davedental: he will have been here for 5 years, hardly a flash in the pan. Its probably a natural end, especially without trophies to date. A simple thanks, you have done a lot for us and best of luck in the new job is all that needs to be said on this.
@Reg Gordon: a journeyman in this situation is a pretty bang average coach who at best has steadied the ship without winning anything. ROG won’t touch the Munster job….. his ego is far too big! He’s going for the Irish job after Andy I reckon ….
@Davedental: isn’t Rassy the only other recent SA head coach we had (if ever)? So you consider the guy who turned a shambles of team into world cup winners in about a year to be a journeyman. We can all sleep easy knowing you don’t get a vote then
@Ciaran Kennedy: don’t forget Rassy shafted Munster too mate, he left in a hurry after doing very little of note . He then for some reason got to personally recommend Van Gran too. He did well I SA TBF but showed his true colours again very quickly…All I’m saying is that an Irishman should get the job…. There are a few outstanding candidates now where they haven’t been before…
@Davedental: it’s better than the 2 or 4 weeks notice most employment contracts require.
In what world is someone not allowed to leave a job if they wish to?
@Davedental: But yet if ROG or Prendergast did tthe same to Racing or La Rochelle that would all be rosy in the garden coz it benefits Munster. Talking about shafting Munster, I think ye really need to have a look at yereselves, and ask why coaches are running away. What has made JVG leave a job he’s in, to move to a less competitive club. Probably money, but the question is still there. When Lam left us, I was asking myself the same things, and part of it was he didn’t want to deal with the IRFU, part of it was Bristol came with a huge offer, but the big one I think was Bristol came with a plan where he didn’t have to operate on a shoestring budget for everything from players to facilities.
@Patrick Breen: lam was very clear that after the death of Axel Foley he reassessed his life and the money on offer from Bristol was the reason he left.
It was refreshing to hear that honesty and not the usual “ I have gone as far as I can with this squad ….”
What does he mean by “a true rugby city” ? What a strange thing to say
‘Moving to a proud rugby club and true rugby city ‘ is a bad dig
@Simon Reardon: wouldn’t be reading too much into it , he had to start on a positive note and we wish him well wherever it takes him
@Simon Reardon: sounds bitter to me. A true rugby city. Thats some cheap shot.
@Simon Reardon: Bath IS a true rugby city – it’s entirely to have more than one ‘true rugby city’ in Europe. Clermont is a ‘true rugby city’.
Mad he had his head turned after signing but still it’s done now. Interesting to see who comes forward and what backroom team they bring with them. The next appointment has to drive the club on or they fall further behind the top teams in Europe
Absolute bellox ! Signed a 2 year contract, Bath came in, deal done ! There was issues in recent months, laughable
Safe to say signing international SH players is now a waste of money, between the rugby championship, no URC games during November and 6N Windows you are paying massive money for about December, January, April and May, 4 months of rugby if they stay injury free. No matter how good they are it’s not worth it.
One centre and one second row to follow him
Munster have the players,the talent is there but they need a top coach at this stage to bring some badly needed silverware. Sadly a good foreign manager is probably needed….pay top money because a good one is 50% of the way to success, I hope they wont end up with a yellow pack leader
Last man out put the lights off.
Very worrying drip drip feed of negative leaks and it’s never good to hang your dirty washing out in public
This private benefactor stuff is a double edged sword.
The money is needed to attract marquee players , but It’ll be tough to pull in a top level coach if they think they’ll have to deal with some rich muppets trying to influence things.
If someone wants to help a club, great, but it should be made very clear they don’t get to dictate how things work.
@Frantic Pigeon: Absolutely they should have a say! English and French clubs are all privately owned and look how well they’ve done when clueless management are held accountable like businessmen would be.
@SomeGuy: are you high?
Pre pandemic financials for the premiership were horrific.
https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/32558/a-record-44-4m-in-losses-premiership-club-figures-revealed/
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/premiership-clubs-lost-a-collective-88-7million-in-the-two-years-before-cvc-buy-in/
Bath will be in the Championship next season!!
@Paddy Murphy: no relegation this year…
Coaching a second division side, not in the Champions cup?
Must be paing a lot, or things are toxic in Munster.
@ChronicAnxiety: no relegation this year
“A proven track record of developing successful teams on the pitch”.
He can’t be talking about Van Grann surely who has won nothing. Anyway I think Bath are about to witness a few more winless years.
These English clubs really throw money around like confetti at a wedding. Lamb at Bristol is given a five year deal (and has had a disaster since) so you would assume VG is getting something similar at Bath. It’s a gravy train for coaches and they would be mad to turn their noses up to it. Big money, long contract. Even if it goes pear shaped they will walk away with some serious money in the pocket. Win, won for the coaches involved. More Dumb and dumber management for the Premiership clubs.
Reading the Indo,it looks like the Historically incompetent Munster Board may have been given a get out of Jail card. The guy delivered no Trophies imported SA players, blocked young talent There is a massive potential there and he was not the man to mine it.So maybe the new guy will.But I will not be shocked if Munster balls this up
Conor O’Shea or Lancaster. With O’Gara, O’Connell and Felix Jones.
@Tombmunster: Hands off our Stuart. He’s going nowhere, for now.