Manchester United: Mourinho’s men handle the pressures in top-four fight

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park on March 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park on March 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

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.

Next: Will Palace survive?

Crystal Palace 2-3 Manchester United match stats 

Crystal Palace
Stat
Manchester United
2Goals3
30%Possession70%
66%Pass Accuracy84%
300Total Passes680
10Total Shots17
4Shots on Target8
3Corners7
19Tackles9
2Offsides2
10Fouls8
1Yellow Cards3
0Red Cards0

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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.

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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.

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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.