MANCHESTER United turned the game around to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park today and move back into the English Premier League’s top six.
Anthony Martial was among the scorers the last time United won at the stadium in London in July 2020, while they had not managed a goal there since Bruno Fernandes’ effort in January 2023.
When Palace led at the end of a first half they dominated thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s twice-taken penalty, it looked like Ruben Amorim’s side would not be changing their abysmal record.
However, as the visiting fans cheekily paid homage to legendary striker Eric Cantona, whose most infamous moment came at Selhurst Park in 1995 and led to a nine-month ban from football – and a prison sentence that was quickly overturned – the current Manchester United players finally displayed some brilliance.
Much maligned centre forward Joshua Zirkzee repaid Amorim’s faith in starting him again after an ineffective display in the defeat by 10-man Everton by levelling with a vicious drive from an acute angle nine minutes into the second period.
Then Mason Mount drove Fernandes’ short pass from a free-kick on the edge of Palace’s box low into the corner beyond the grasp of Dean Henderson.
The victory ended United’s run of three games without a win and ensured Palace were unable to grasp the prize of a place in the top four that victory would have given them.
It is the first time Palace would lose at home this season after going unbeaten at Selhurst Park for 12 matches, stretching back to last season.