Man United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Šeško completes turnaround as Carrick goes seven unbeaten | OneFootball

Manchester United fought back from a goal down to beat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford as their unbeaten run under Michael Carrick was extended to seven matches.

Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško saw United move up to third in the Premier League table and leapfrog Aston Villa, also on 51 points, while Palace remain 14th and 10 points clear of the bottom three.

The visitors’ goalscorer Maxence Lacroix saw red 11 minutes into the second half for a professional foul, and the Red Devils took full advantage of it in their bid to return to the Champions League.

As it happened

Man United were stunned inside four minutes as Crystal Palace capitalized on a set-piece, with Maxence Lacroix rising highest to head home from a corner.

Palace began on the front foot, well organized and dominant in possession during the opening ten minutes.

They almost doubled their advantage when Ismaila Sarr broke through on goal, but Senne Lammens reacted sharply to keep his effort out and prevent United from falling further behind.

Play was halted in the 23rd minute after Luke Shaw went down injured, with the defender unable to continue. He was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui.

United nearly found an equalizer when Harry Maguire rose to meet a corner, but his header failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

The resulting pressure led to another corner after Daichi Kamada conceded, though Palace managed to clear their lines.

Bruno Fernandes could have equalized through a free kick which was tipped over the bar by Dean Henderson towards the end of the first half.

United were below par throughout the first half and should have drawn level before the break when Casemiro found himself with a clear opportunity, only to fail to convert.

There was significant pressure heading into half-time, with third place within reach for the hosts following favorable results elsewhere — yet their performance had not matched the occasion.

United began the second half with greater intensity and were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, after Matheus Cunha was pulled down by Lacroix while bearing down on goal.

The challenge denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and left the referee with little choice but to point to the spot and to send off Lacroix.

Fernandes stepped up and converted from the spot to bring Manchester United level. Palace were then forced to play the remainder of the match with ten men following the dismissal.

Benjamin Sesko fired United ahead for the first time in the match, powering home a thumping header from Bruno Fernandes’ pinpoint cross.

United pressed forward once more, with Matheus Cunha trying his luck, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Henderson.

The hosts had most of the possession in the second half and had a total of ten shots on target with three big chances.

Ayden Heaven picked up the game’s first yellow card for a clumsy foul on Sarr as Palace broke forward, but the counterattack fizzled out without causing United any problems.

United came close to extending their lead when Amad Diallo’s low strike forced Dean Henderson into a sharp save, the ball deflecting for a corner went on top of the net.

Joshua Zirkzee saw his effort blocked by the Palace defence, but the clearance fell to Kobbie Mainoo, whose follow-up shot drifted wide of the target.

The win saw Manchester United move to third in the Premier League table, with a trip up north to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will travel across London to face Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Thursday.