Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
- From the section Football
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.
The attendance was 75,277 but there looked to be far fewer inside the ground while, 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.
Youth, pace and promise
But for keeper Julian Speroni, Palace would have been on the receiving end of an ugly defeat as Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard once again showed United have a promising future.
Martial, who gave Martin Kelly and Adrian Mariappa a torrid evening, was denied by two excellent saves after Delaney had stabbed United into the lead while trying to make a clearance.
United's previous four league wins had been 1-0 but the hosts always looked likely to add to their lead against limp opponents.
Darmian neatly chested the ball down before dispatching a sweet finish in front of the Stretford End and only more heroics from Speroni kept out the lively pair of Rashford and Lingard.
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
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away0
- Corners
- Home10
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away7