Date: 15th December 2016 at 11:19pm
Written by:
Zlatan does it again.

United’s good form continued this week as they earned back to back league victories for the first time since August following up Sunday’s three points against Spurs with a 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late winner gave United the win, after James McArthur cancelled out Paul Pogba’s first half goal. Neither team was left happy with referee Craig Pawson who had a complete shocker getting a multitude of decisions wrong almost from the kick off. Marcos Rojo should have been sent off for a two-footed lunge – his second in three games, while Ibrahimovic appeared to handle in setting up Pogba’s opener, who also looked to be offside to add further heat to home fan’s urine.

If Palace felt hard done by in the first half then it was United’s turn in the second, as Joe Ledley handled in the box in clear view of the referee while Juan Mata had a goal disallowed for offside when he looked anything but.

In the end though United prevailed, here’s how the team performed.

David De Gea- produced some excellent saves to keep United in the game. 7

Eric Bailly- Not quite back to his best and isn’t a right back, subbed not long after half time due to a knock. 6

Phil Jones- Who is this man and where did Jose Mourinho find him? Superb as he has been for weeks. 7

Marcos Rojo – Idiotic challenge on Wilfred Zaha could have cost United dearly, needs to sort his napper out. 5

Daley Blind- Not as assured at left back as he is at centre back but still picked out some decent passes. 6

Michael Carrick – What would United do without him? Sooner or later the question needs to be answered and it’s going to be a nightmare for the manager. Excellent as per. 8

Ander Herrera- Busy, aggressive, creative, all you’d want from a midfielder. 8

Paul Pogba – He’s beginning to show why the Reds forked out so much to bring him back to the club. Scored one, made another and always looked to try and make things happen. 8 

Juan Mata- Not his best game but should’ve had a goal and never stopped trying – at least not until his obligatory subbing. 6

Wayne Rooney- Decent showing from the skipper who showed the required amount of energy and aggression. 7

Zlatan Ibrahimovic- Superbly taken winner and despite the odd misplaced pass, led the line well. 7

Substitutes:

Matteo Darmian – For Bailly- Did okay in a tough game against pacy opposition. 6

Jesse Lingard- For Mata- Lots of energy and had a half decent effort saved. 6

Marcus Rashford – For Rooney- Caused Palace problems late on. 6

Referee- Craig Pawson – Got so many decisions wrong it was almost a record-breaking display of ineptitude. 1

Jose Mourinho- Got it right with his selection, subs and tactics, although his public defence of Rojo should be different to what he tells the defender behind closed doors. 8

 

Comments are closed.