Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester United 2.
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace0Man UtdManchester United2
Manchester United ended a three-match Premier League winless run as goals from Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney condemned Crystal Palace to defeat.
Rooney had a first-half cross cleared off the line by Damien Delaney before Marouane Fellaini shot wide.
Van Persie slotted home his fourth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Patrice Evra was fouled by Palace striker Marouane Chamakh.
And Rooney doubled the lead with a shot into the top corner from 12 yards.
The England international, who signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract worth up to £300,000 per week on Friday, had gone five games without a Premier League goal or an assist.
But the 28-year-old, who looked to have something thrown at him by a Palace fan when taking a corner in the first half, showed why United were so keen to secure his future at Old Trafford with a stunning goal.
David Moyes's men travel to Greek side Olympiakos on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, knowing that competition is their last realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
But Saturday's win moved them up to sixth in the Premier League, just eight points off the top four and Champions League qualification for next season.
Just two wins and two draws in seven league games in 2014 had left them 11 points adrift of fourth and hoping all of Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton will falter.
Fit-again £27.5m summer signing Fellaini had an early impact on his first start since early December and could have given his side the lead had he connected better with a half-chance inside the penalty area.
Adnan Januzaj, making his first start since early January, was also looking a danger and had a goal disallowed after controlling a cross with his arm before drilling low into the net.
But Palace, who gave last season's top-scorer Glenn Murray a first start for nine months, are a different proposition under Tony Pulis, who has guided the Eagles off the bottom of the Premier League with 19 points won since he took charge in late November.
Their defence was looking organised and resolute under pressure, though Delaney had to head Rooney's chipped cross off the line before Nemanja Vidic headed the rebound over.
For all United's possession, there was a lack of cutting edge and pace, but they should have been ahead when Fellaini shot well wide from close range just before the break.
He was let off after the restart as a rash challenge from Chamakh gave United the break they needed, with Evra upended just inside the penalty area as he ran onto Januzaj's pass. Van Persie coolly dispatched the penalty.
Cameron Jerome had a low shot saved by David De Gea before Rooney doubled United's lead, crashing a 12-yard strike into the top corner from Evra's cross from the left to leave Palace two points above the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis:
"Marouane Chamakh has done fantastic since I have come here. Today he was not as great in possession of the ball, he was sloppy at times, but the challenge for their penalty, he is totally committed and he has mis-timed it. It is a penalty.
"Wayne Rooney's goal is a great finish but we work very hard on picking up and one or two of the lads were on the goal line but not picking players up. Players score goals.
"I am disappointed with the second goal as much as the first. When they got the penalty that was our best period.
"The penalty was really a kick in the teeth. No excuses at all though."
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
- 1Speroni
- 2Ward
- 4Parr
- 15Jedinak
- 6Dann
- 27Delaney
- 11InceSubstituted forGayleat 85'minutes
- 28Ledley
- 17MurraySubstituted forJeromeat 66'minutes
- 29ChamakhSubstituted forBolasieat 74'minutes
- 13Puncheon
Substitutes
- 7Bolasie
- 8Dikgacoi
- 16Gayle
- 19Gabbidon
- 26Hennessey
- 30Jerome
- 46Bannan
Man Utd
- 1de Gea
- 12Smalling
- 3Evra
- 31FellainiSubstituted forFletcherat 88'minutes
- 5Ferdinand
- 15VidicBooked at 59mins
- 8Mata
- 16Carrick
- 20van PersieSubstituted forA Valenciaat 80'minutes
- 10Rooney
- 44JanuzajSubstituted forGiggsat 80'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 11Giggs
- 13Lindegaard
- 14Hernández
- 18Young
- 24Fletcher
- 25A Valencia
- 26Kagawa
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 24,571
Match Stats
Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamMan Utd
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester United 2.
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Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace).
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Foul by Luis Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
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Jonathan Parr (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Mile Jedinak with a cross following a set piece situation.
Booking
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ryan Giggs (Manchester United).
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Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Darren Fletcher replaces Marouane Fellaini.
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Chris Smalling (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace).
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Attempt saved. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yannick Bolasie with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Dwight Gayle replaces Thomas Ince.
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Attempt blocked. Thomas Ince (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Parr.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Ryan Giggs replaces Adnan Januzaj.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Luis Antonio Valencia replaces Robin van Persie.
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Offside, Manchester United. Michael Carrick tries a through ball, but Juan Mata is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Robin van Persie.
