2 February 2025
Man Utd 0 Crystal Palace 2
Man Utd welcomed Crystal Palace to Old Trafford looking for a much-needed win. The Red Devils unveiled two new signings before the game, as Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were paraded in front of the fans. The Ruben Amorim era had failed to produce so far and the home faithful were hoping to see a convincing win over the visitors.
The Portuguese manager has showed he will not stray from his plan. This week Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan to underpin Amorim’s stubborn approach when you get on his bad side. Going into this match, he also decided to leave both Hojlund and Zirkzee on the bench, opting to play Mainoo as a false nine instead.
Everything started well when Mainoo looked to cut the ball back from the byline. Garnacho attacked it at the near post but the visitors put their bodies on the line to block the Argentine’s shot. At this point they did not seem to be missing either of their strikers, who seem to spend more time everywhere but the penalty area.
Amad then ran at The Eagles’ defence and laid the ball off to Mainoo. The young midfielder got his shot away unable to catch it sweetly but it still had Henderson beaten. Sadly, his effort came back off the far post as Palace managed to clear their lines. Man Utd were looking the better team and it seemed a matter of time before they broke the deadlock.
In their first attack of the game Crystal Palace were having some joy on the flanks. Sarr whipped in a cross to the back post where Munoz met it with a header. Dalot was just statuesque as the defender outjumped him and really should have worked the keeper but sent his effort sailing over the crossbar. It was an early warning for the Red Devils.
It is clear that Amorim likes to play a certain way and wing backs are key to his formation. However, he does not have the personnel to carry out his style and as a result they look very fragile at the back. Rather than looking like the intended back five, it all too often seems like they are just playing with three defenders, none of whom are cutting the mustard.
The visitors grew in confidence and Kamada found some space in the box. He cut the ball back to Mitchell who fired a shot at goal, narrowly missing the far post. Even Onana expected to see the net bulging. It was a big chance for The Eagles as Glasner held his head in his hands on the touchline. Both sides had created chances to score in the opening exchanges.
Lerma then played in Mateta who looked to lift his shot over the body of the advancing Onana. The keeper may have got the slightest of touches as the striker’s effort narrowly missed the far post. The travelling fans knew their team could not afford to be missing these gilt-edged chances, eventually this would come back to bite them.
After the interval, Man Utd started to show some attacking intent. Amad was causing problems out wide when he played a pass into the path of Fernandes in the box. The Portuguese midfielder hit a first-time shot but Henderson got down well to beat it away. The effort sparked the home fans into life once again at Old Trafford.
As the visitors failed to deal with a free-kick lofted into the box, it fell to Ugarte on the volley. His shot evaded the sliding challenges of two defenders but the Palace keeper showed great reactions to save with his legs on the line. The former Man Utd stopper seemed intent on keeping the Red Devils out on his return to his former home.
Crystal Palace won a free-kick deep in the Man Utd half. As it was lofted forward, Lacroix rose to head it goalwards, only to see it come crashing back off the bar. Fortunately, Mateta was the quickest to respond as he bundled it over the line to give The Eagles the lead. Old Trafford fell silent as he wheeled away in celebration.
With just under half an hour to play, it almost seemed as if Amorim’s side had accepted their fate having seen Palace take the lead. They failed to create any goalscoring chances and certainly didn’t have the urgency or will to find a way back into this game. This must be a tough watch for their long-suffering fans, the lack of passion in this squad is worrying.
As time was running out, Sarr threaded a superb pass in between the defence for Munoz to run onto. With the goal at his mercy and Onana trying to close him down, he unselfishly squared it to Mateta who stroked home to make sure of the points for Glasner’s side. You could not say they did not deserve it either, they had created enough chances in the game to score three or four.
The Eagles took all the points, leaving Man Utd fans wondering just where their club was going. They have a manager who plays only one way and there are no players in the squad capable of implementing his vision. Their defence is a shambles and they do not have a striker capable of scoring goals. If cryogenics were cheap, there would be an influx of Red Devils’ fans asking to be thawed out when they get good again. Of course, this isn’t given to anyone, it may never return.
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