February 22 2014

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace were defeated 2-0 at home to Manchester United.

The Premier League champions laboured to this victory and secured the game after Robin van Persie put away a penalty just past the hour mark before Wayne Rooney added gloss to the scoreline.

Eagles striker Glenn Murray was handed his first start of the season following his long-term lay-off with a knee injury.

Adnan Janujaz got the ball in the net for United on 17 minutes but referee Michael Oliver adjudged he had handled first.

The away side was inches away from scoring after a Rooney corner to the far post was headed out by Damien Delaney on the line and Nemanja Vidic diverted back just wide.

Jonathan Parr and Marouane Chamakh had headed efforts easily saved by David De Gea, while Julian Speroni gobbled up a Rooney shot.

Marouane Fellaini curled an effort wide of the goal then Rooney put a free-kick off target before the interval.

Palace forced a succession of corners after the break but failed to capitalise as Tom Ince fired over and Jason Puncheon shot at De Gea.

United got a breakthrough they barely deserved with a penalty after Chamakh's poor tackle on Patrice Evra just inside the box on 62 minutes. Van Persie sent Speroni the wrong way for 1-0.

Palace's best chance came from sub Cameron Jerome whose low shot on the turn was brilliantly pushed out by De Gea.

But on 68 minutes, Rooney added United's second of the game with a well-taken strike from Evra's cross, unmarked just inside the area.

Van Persie almost it three but hit the bar for the Red Devils, as Palace fell to just their second loss at home since since Tony Pulis's arrival in November.

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Parr, Ince (Gayle 85), Jedinak, Ledley, Puncheon, Chamakh (Bolasie 74), Murray (Jerome 66.

Not used: Hennessey, Dikgacoi, Gabbidon, Bannan.

United: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fellaini, Carrick (Fletcher 88), Mata, Rooney, Januzaj (Giggs, 80), Van Persie (Valencia 80).

Not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Young,, Kagawa.

2013/14 match reports

2013/14 squad stats

Premier League table

How did you get on in the Prediction League?

Did you take any photos of the game? Upload them here

Rate the players' performance here