Manchester United: Mourinho’s men handle the pressures in top-four fight
What a match you missed if you didn’t get the action between Crystal Palace and Manchester United, at Selhurst Park during Monday Night Football.
The fight for next season’s Champions League spots intensifies to one of it’s highest peaks after Man United reversed their fate against Palace, on Monday Night.
Before the halftime break – Man United took shape of the United team who’s been showing up to away fixtures, or not showing up rather. Previous failure to teams like Tottenham and Newcastle, gave light to what we came to expect if United did fumble poorly.
That fumbling personality came to play, but it wasn’t out long on the pitch.
Although the customary nature of the pitiable United was on show, it wasn’t there to stay. Palace thought they were about to write their own, new history but Jose’s men woke up and fought well under two immense types of pressure.
One, having to come back from two goals down, and turn the game on its head. Two, all while fighting for their second place position on the English Premier League table.
Crystal Palace 2-3 Manchester United match stats
Crystal Palace | Stat | Manchester United |
| 2 | Goals | 3 |
| 30% | Possession | 70% |
| 66% | Pass Accuracy | 84% |
| 300 | Total Passes | 680 |
| 10 | Total Shots | 17 |
| 4 | Shots on Target | 8 |
| 3 | Corners | 7 |
| 19 | Tackles | 9 |
| 2 | Offsides | 2 |
| 10 | Fouls | 8 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
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Smalling, Lukaku, and Matic was part of the Red Devils siege, respectively. Smalling’s goal came because of a brain-dead moment by Tomkins to allow the United defender in on goal. After Lukaku did exactly what strikers are supposed to do – take shots at goal and watch things happen.
And then the last moment of the game happened, actually the most colossal moment of Matchday 29. The last touch, the last shot, and the last chance of the game – turned into the last goal of the game.
Matic’s first goal for Manchester United was simply, heavenly! A goal that was worthy of three points and them regaining second place on the table.
Matic’s goal vs Crystal Palace#MUFC pic.twitter.com/mwvz2O0ptp
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) March 5, 2018
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Major talking points coming from United’s win over Palace
Roy Hodgson has a team able to go up and take the lead. But he doesn’t have the quality to see those advantages out.
His side has the Red Sea to split, mountains to move, and platoons to conquer – in their expedition for a Premier League stay.
Mourinho’s men are more than capable of absorbing all the immensity of making Champions League spots and playing behind the teams playing for the same spots.
FT: Crystal Palace 2 #MUFC 3.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 5, 2018
United come from two goals down to turn things around at Selhurst Park in the most dramatic fashion, with a stoppage-time strike from Matic sealing three vital points! #CRYMUN pic.twitter.com/e5VllTtlNH
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Manchester United has set up their full-sized derby against Liverpool in a great way. The two once again, play for the same spot. A victory gives the winner second highest slot on the table.
A worry and a major key alert – is their last line of defence. They have two of their most important encounters to date and let Palace in on De Gea, on 10 occasions.
Losing either of the next two games is not an option.