(cache) Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace

Damien Delaney scores an own goal against Manchester United — Three of the six own goals for Crystal Palace since returning to the Premier League in 2013 have been scored by Damien Delaney

Manchester United moved one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal with four Premier League games remaining after a comfortable win over Crystal Palace.

Damien Delaney set United on their way when he inadvertently turned Matteo Darmian's cross into his own net.

Julian Speroni kept Palace in the game with a series of fine saves before Darmian doubled the lead by lashing home from 20 yards.

Arsenal, who have a game in hand, entertain West Brom on Thursday.

Darmian's first goal for United sealed a highly satisfactory win for Louis van Gaal's side on a night thousands of United fans decided to stay away.

There were plenty of empty seats and, despite victory, the atmosphere was flat.

Can United secure a Champions League spot?

This was a game United simply had to win and they easily managed to get the job done thanks, partly, to an inferior Palace side who have yet to secure top-flight safety.

United were everything Palace were not - bright, creative, energetic and hungry.

One win will not paper over the cracks of a disappointing league campaign, yet Van Gaal's side have given themselves a fighting chance of sealing a top-four finish and Champions League football.

United still face big tests against leaders Leicester City (home) and West Ham (away), while they must also travel to a Norwich side fighting to stay in the Premier League before ending the league season at home to Bournemouth.

Relive the action from Old Trafford

Reaction from Old Trafford and Wednesday's other Premier League games

More to follow.

Line-ups

Man Utd

1de Gea
25A Valencia
12Smalling
17Blind
36DarmianBooked at 62mins
28Schneiderlin
35LingardSubstituted forHerreraat 73'minutes
8Mata
10RooneySubstituted forFellainiat 78'minutes
9Martial
39RashfordSubstituted forDepayat 64'minutes

Substitutes

5Rojo
7Depay
18Young
20Romero
21Herrera
27Fellaini
51Fosu-Mensah

Crystal Palace

1Speroni
34KellyBooked at 6mins
3Mariappa
27Delaney
23SouaréBooked at 43mins
7CabayeSubstituted forMcArthurat 66'minutes
15Jedinak
11Zaha
14Lee Chung-yongSubstituted forMutchat 60'minutes
26Sako
25AdebayorSubstituted forWickhamat 75'minutes

Substitutes

9Campbell
12McCarthy
18McArthur
21Wickham
22Mutch
36Dreher
42Puncheon

Referee:: Lee Mason
Attendance:: 75,277

Match Stats

Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamCrystal Palace

Possession: Home66%; Away34%

Shots: Home16; Away5

Shots on Target: Home10; Away0

Corners: Home10; Away2

Fouls: Home13; Away7

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Manchester United 2, Crystal Palace 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Crystal Palace 0.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+3'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+2'

Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Jordon Mutch (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

Posted at 86'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Martin Kelly.

Posted at 85'

Attempt blocked. Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Connor Wickham.

Posted at 81'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Adrian Mariappa.

Posted at 81'

Attempt blocked. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.

Posted at 80'

Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace).

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Manchester United. Marouane Fellaini replaces Wayne Rooney.

Posted at 78'

Dangerous play by Daley Blind (Manchester United).

Posted at 78'

Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by James McArthur.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Connor Wickham replaces Emmanuel Adebayor.

Posted at 74'

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 73'

Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).

Posted at 73'

Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Manchester United. Ander Herrera replaces Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Chris Smalling (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Matteo Darmian with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Adrian Mariappa.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McArthur replaces Yohan Cabaye.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Memphis Depay (Manchester United).

Posted at 66'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 64'

Offside, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard tries a through ball, but Antonio Valencia is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Marcus Rashford.

Posted at 63'

Attempt blocked. Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Booking

Posted at 62'

Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Matteo Darmian (Manchester United).

Posted at 62'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 62'

Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 62'

Attempt saved. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.

Substitution

Posted at 60'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jordon Mutch replaces Lee Chung-yong.

Posted at 59'

Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Goal!

Posted at 55'

Goal! Manchester United 2, Crystal Palace 0. Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner following a corner.

Posted at 54'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Damien Delaney.

Posted at 54'

Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner.

Posted at 53'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Martin Kelly.

Posted at 51'

Foul by Matteo Darmian (Manchester United).

Posted at 51'

Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 46'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Pape Souaré.

Posted at 46'

Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Manchester United 1, Crystal Palace 0.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+2'

First Half ends, Manchester United 1, Crystal Palace 0.

Posted at 45'+1'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 44'

Offside, Manchester United. Matteo Darmian tries a through ball, but Juan Mata is caught offside.

Booking

Posted at 43'

Pape Souaré (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 43'

Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 43'

Foul by Pape Souaré (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 43'

Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

Posted at 42'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Chris Smalling.

Posted at 40'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Julian Speroni.

Posted at 40'

Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 39'

Offside, Crystal Palace. Damien Delaney tries a through ball, but Emmanuel Adebayor is caught offside.

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Can United secure a Champions League spot?

Line-ups

Man Utd

Substitutes

Crystal Palace

Substitutes

Match Stats

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Full Time

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution

Booking

Substitution

Goal!

Second Half

Half Time

Booking

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Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace

Can United secure a Champions League spot?

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Man Utd

Substitutes

Crystal Palace

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Match Stats

Live Text

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