Bruno Fernandes stars as United beat Crystal Palace to extend unbeaten run [video] | OneFootball

Fernandes inspired United again [Getty Images}

Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace

Bruno Fernandes scored one and assisted the winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace and move up to 3rd place in the Premier League on Sunday.

United trailed at half time to an early header by Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on 4 minutes, but once again their captain was pivotal in the recovery. When Lacroix conceded a penalty and a red card for a foul on Matheus Cunha, Fernandes stepped up to convert the spot kick on (57') to draw United level with plenty of time to take advantage of their numerical superiority.

The winner came not long after, with Fernandes registering yet another assist for Benjamin Sesko to continue his run of goalscoring form. Fernandes produced an inch-perfect cross from the right, which Sesko met with a clinical header for the Slovenian’s 7th goal from his last 8 appearances, five of which have been as a substitute.

With the victory, during which Diogo Dalot played at right-back, United moved into 3rd position and ensured a 6-point advantage over 6th place Chelsea in the battle for a top 5 spot. Finishing in the top five will almost certainly guarantee Champions League football due to the strong performance of English clubs in UEFA competitions this term, which would represent a significant recovery for United following their finish of 15th last term.

"We are going through a very good spell," Fernandes said after the match. "A positive spell. We knew we were capable of this. It's not from there [interim boss Michael Carrick taking over], it's from Newcastle on Boxing Day, a while ago.

"We need to be able to play better football, for us, it's a sign we want to improve. The resilience of defending and getting the end result is sometimes very important for the team to understand. The spirit is very high and it will be massive in the next game against Newcastle."

United’s performance level has dipped somewhat in recent weeks, but another victory means Carrick has won six of his seven matches since stepping into the void vacated by Ruben Amorim in early January. While the upturn in results has galvanised the fanbase, Fernandes admits he has found it difficult to play so few games, with United consigned to a 40-match season after immediate exists in both domestic cup competitions.

"It has to be huge because, you know, like we struggle a lot this season by playing just one game a week. At least, I did!

"And I'm pretty sure also players that have played less because we have less games. It's more difficult to rotate. I think everyone needs the chance to play but, when you have a game [only] every week, it's more difficult for a manager to make a lot of changes and give a lot of opportunities.

"When you play in Europe, with the amount of games you have to play, it gets important also for the squad to understand everyone is very important, on any moment of the season. It still is but, with more games, you have more chances to play.”

United travel to St James Park to play Newcastle on Wednesday evening – a fixture the Red Devils have struggled in across recent years, having lost their last three visits.