MANCHESTER UNITED slumped to another meek home defeat as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Tottenham eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou by beating Brentford 2-0.
Jean Philippe-Mateta was Palace’s hero with both goals in the second half as United suffered a fifth defeat in their last six home league games.
Victory takes the Eagles above the Red Devils in the table as Oliver Glasner’s side climb to 12th.
Three consecutive wins for United had lifted the mood around Old Trafford but it was back to square one for Ruben Amorim after another home display lacking in creativity and riddled with defensive lapses.
Amorim’s decision to start without a natural striker backfired with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench.
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started in a centre-forward role after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Romanian side FCSB in midweek.
The England international’s scuffed strike came back off the post in United’s best effort of a bright opening before their attacking threat fizzled out.
Palace have lost just one of their last seven league games to recover from a miserable start to the season.
The visitors missed the creative spark offered by Eberechi Eze for the first hour as an injury meant he was only fit enough for a cameo appearance off the bench.
But Eze made an instant impact as from his free-kick Maxence Lacroix’s header came back off the bar and into Mateta’s path to fire home.
Worse was to follow for United as Lisandro Martinez had to be stretchered off with what appeared a serious knee injury.
Palace showed no mercy to secure the three points when Daniel Munoz charged through the middle of the home side’s defence and unselfishly squared for Mateta to knock in his sixth goal in five games.
Source: Alamy Stock Photo
- Spurs ease relegation fears -
Spurs eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle as Postecoglou's injury-ravaged side kept a rare clean sheet to see off Brentford.
The Bees were left to rue several missed chances against Tottenham's makeshift defence with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero again absent.
Brentford also lent the visitors a helping hand with the opening goal.
Hakon Valdimarsson flapped at Son Heung-min's corner and Vitaly Janelt headed into his own net on 29 minutes.
Yoane Wissa's header came off the bar as Brentford pushed for an equaliser.
But Spurs picked them off on the counter-attack when Pape Sarr prodded through Valdimarsson's legs from Son's pass.
Victory lifts Tottenham to 14th and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
ETH looking better by the week
@Rebel Red: his signings aren’t!
@Brian Dunne: Was Amorim brought in to improve things ? They’re actually worse which is hard to believe
@Rebel Red: Agree
@Rebel Red: won’t right him off just yet. He’s dealing with a lot of poor players brought in under eth. All the money spent and not one goalscoring centre forward at the club. A goalkeeper who I’d hate to see bohs signing. It’ll take time. Again!
@Rebel Red: Moysie looking better by the day.
The ‘Theatre of nightmares’!
@John arse: The Toilet of Despair!
While this had no bearing on the result I must say two thinks have been creeping into the game and the refs are allowing it. First is players throwing themselves to the ground on the slightest contact or when they lose possession and ref blowing for a free. Ugarte did it a few times, Sarr did it for the free the led to the goal and loads more. Not every contact is a free. Second is how slow every restart is now. Every throw free corner kickout is taking nearly a minute. Making soccer even more boring than it already is.
@Cormac: Guys throwing themselves to the ground at the slightest touch has been in the game for years, hasn’t just crept in. Has made the top football leagues utterly embarrassing at times. I think that’s a factor in the increased popularity of the championship and indeed LOI.As regards the slowness of some restarts I’d agree and feel that referees can help here.
I’ve watched a few Gaa inter county games with the new rules, the games improved no end.
@Bert Carolan: just feel the looking for the free has gotten worse. Even see some playing grabbing the ball as they fall, if refs clamped down on that and slow play it will be taken out of the game.
@Cormac: they could easily do it retroactively.
@Cormac: don’t watch it then?
@Cormac: Need to do something about corners. Every corner now is like WWE or WWF, whatever that wrestling stuff is called, and the ref pretending to be in charge.
Bring back moyes
@Seanie:
@Seanie: don’t matter man u are finished
Everton finishing above utd
After a short pause normal service has resumed.
@Michael Carroll: one week back utd
Played well until they hit the final 3rd. Same old problems against a team that set up so well defensively. Two goals completely avoidable too.
@Cormac: lol
@Max: what have I said that’s wrong
@Cormac: just yet another muppet who didn’t watch the game cormac. You are spot on.
Do United have the stomach to stick with a manager and give him time to build his own team? What looks really bad is that they do not seem angry at losing.
@Graham: you think they’ll sack him after 2 or 3 months?
@Brian Dunne: No, they commit then panic, that’s been the problem. Stay the course, it will get worse before it gets better. Man Utd more than anyone should know that. Fergie had to hit rock bottom first.
@Graham: if this time next season they’re losing games like this then maybe the conversation will have to be have.
@Graham: letting Ten Hag build his own team is exactly what has them in this mess
@J P Ke: winning the FA Cup ended up being disastrous.
Getting boring now
Opps
Truly woeful outfit.
It’s deplorable at this stage, no improvement in consistency except to say that they lose more than win. Had the best of managers, so when are excuses going to end, no good scouts at club, Stevie Wonder wouldn’t have bought Anthony, Mason Mount, christ almighty it’s cat to be a United supporter these days, relegation battle is a real possibility
Harry Maguire looks dejected? How many times are the media going to use that pathetic phrase?
@John Deane: He looks as if he’s taking a drag of a Woodbine in the photo……..
Amorim out, he’s a fraud.
@Joe Beirne: 115 stay in your lane
Palace get another 3 points off the man urinals. A top outfit my a**e