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MAXENCE LACROIX IS SENT OFF!
Oh man, what a day Lacroix has had. He scored a superb header early doors, then controlled Palace’s back three through a fine first half, but a rash decision – he had to let Cunha go and hope he missed a difficult chance – has changed the game. Henderson, though, saves penalties and also saves shots against his former club…
55 min The ref is called to the monitor and I don’t see how Chris Kavanagh can decide this wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity.
54 min But is that denial of a goalscoring opporunity? Cunha was away, and though the angle was tightish, he was going to have a free shot at goal. I think this is going to be a red card.
SharePENALTY TO UNITED!
52 min Mbeumo sends it under the bar and Henderson claws away, but there’s no one up, so United immediately launch another attack, Bruno sliding a clever ball down the side of Lacroix, who drags back Cunha outside the box, carries on into it, and is that a penalty? Maguire is up in the ref’s coupon, and he takes his time, then points to the spot!
50 min Henderson is booked for time-wasting then United come again, much more speed and conviction in their play now, but Mainoo opts to dig out a hopeful cross, Sesko heading high and wide from long range … off, as a replay shows, Lacroix’s fingers. He’s lucky VAR don’t fancy a look at that because his arm was up. So United go again, winning another corner…
48 min The corner is cleared but Dalot sends the ball into the box again, Casemiro heading it and Sesko in sending an effort wide. He is so dangerous in those positions, and United will have to find a way of replacing his goal-threat when he leaves.
47 min United have started this half like they mean it, winning three headers in a row to send Mbeumo into the box. His shot is blocked, but Sesko follows up … and Canvot blocks his effort behind, celebrating like he’s scored.
46 min We go again, United attacking the Scoreboard, not the Stretford End, having been turned around by Palace first half.
Half-time email: “Don’t you think Carrick is a pretty easy coach to play against tactically?” wonders Tim Stappard.
I’m not sure. I think he’s changed the way United attack from game to game – Cunha and Mbeumo have played all across the front, Bruno too. The poorer performances have come, I think, because of lack of urgency and intensity rather than because opponents are shutting them down because they’re too predictable. I also think that, with a more mobile midfield presence than Casemiro, they’ll be able to move the ball quicker – though the last three first halves, against West Ham, Everton and now Palace, have been nowhere near good enough.
Half-time reading:
ShareHALF-TIME: Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Palace have been very good and are well worth their lead. United improved in the last 15 minutes, but are struggling to move the ball quickly enough to create.
45+3 min In United’s first couple of games under Carrick, one of the key features was the way they were able to create rondo situations, their technical players able to move the ball around opponents even when out-numbered. They’re struggling to recreate that now, and Carrick has work to do at half-time.
45+1 min Palace send it left and Johnson crosses well, Mazraoui winning an important header on the stoop to get the ball away from Strand Larsen.
45+1 min We’ll have three additional minutes.
45 min Sesko has only had seven touches so far; the next fewest is Johnson with 13.
43 min This time, the cross picks out the onrushing Casemiro at the far post, but he can’t quite get the angle to send it inside the post, the ball glancing off his head and flying wide. Having wasted the first half-hour, United are bossing this now, without really looking likely to score.
42 min Fernandes goes over the wall, near side, and a flying Henderson turns the ball over the bar – though it was probably a fraction high anyroad. The resultant corner comes to nowt, but then Kamada, who can’t have many chances left, fouls Bruno, and now United have a free-kick 25 yards out but too far left to allow a shot.
41 min Mbeumo turns Kamada, who fouls him having already been booked. Free-kick United, 27 yards out, right of centre. Behind the ball, Bruno and Casemiro.
40 min United are missing the width and dribbling Amad gives them, which evidences the beauty of football: no formation is perfect so add something in one area, lose it in another. Meantime, Bruno crosses low from the right and is aggravated when no one makes a run to the front post to meet the ball.
38 min I wouldn’t say United are coming, but they’re imposing themselves now, Bruno crossing for Sesko who leaps, heads … too close to Henderson, who dives to make a routine save.
37 min Lovely touch from Bruno to free Mbeumo, who might shoot but instead seeks a clearer lane, jinking across the face of the box before squaring to Mazraoui, who shoots directly into Cunha, competing for the same ball.
36 min Bruno’s backheel doesn’t find Dalot, who stretches desperately to win a ball that isn’t there, landing studs on Kamada’s foot; he’s booked, perhaps a little harshly.
35 min Goodness me, Aa beautiful, unique goal from Alex Iwobi has given Fulham a second; they lead Spurs 2-0, and relegation looms for the denizens of N17.
33 min There we go, Mbeumo inside on to his left foot and a driven cross seeks Sesko at the back post, but Henderson is wise to the ruse.
32 min Maguire wins the header but doesn’t impart requisite power, Sarr extending a leg to send the ball behind for a further corner when Henderson would’ve saved the effort. This time, when the ball is recycled, Kamada and Bruno clash heads and there’s a brief pause, then United again up the pressure – such as it is.
31 min Better again from United, working the ball across the pitch with another decent pass from Casemiro opening things up then, when it goes in behind, Mbeumo wins a corner.
30 min Slightly better from United, Mainoo to Casemiro, who plays a decent channel-ball for Bruno … whose cross is to no one. Palace are containing them really easily at the moment.
29 min United have yet to create a chance or intimate danger; Palace look lively every time they go forward.
27 min Mazraoi burrows forward and flicks outside him to Cunha, who tries to circumnavigate Richards, only to be sonned-off into touch and down the Old Trafford dip.
25 min Mazraoui goes to left-back and though United might miss the balance they get from Shaw’s left-footedness, he gives them a bit more quality and composure on the ball – something that’s been in short supply so far this afternoon.
23 min Shaw is down and we see a replay of a tackle from a few minutes ago, Munoz introducing studs to metatarsus. It looks a right sair yin and I think that’s his day done; Mazraoui replaces him.
22 min Palace are finding space behind United’s midfield at will, Munoz nudging to Sarr, who moves across the box to Mitchell. He might shoot first time but instead shifts it, hoping for a better opportunity, and Dalot sees him and the ball behind.
21 min Mainoo finds Casemiro, who floats one at Sesko though there’s no one running off him, and the header he wins is easily fielded by Henderson.
20 min The home crowd try to rouse United, who are having more of the ball now, but doing very little with it. And, as I type, Dalot plays a poor pass seeking Fernandes on the edge; Palace intercept and bring it away.
18 mim Twenty-one seconds after conceding, Brighton have gone in front again against Forest, Danny Welbeck putting them 2-1 up.
17 min Pre-match, much of the chatter was about Sesko; he’s barely had a kick so far. More importantly, I think, now has Mainoo and, under Carrick, it’s becoming apparent that if he’s getting touches United are playing well and, if he isn’t, they aren’t.
16 min Johnson goes to the far side of the box, Richards heads back, and United win the second ball before Lammens collects. At Brighton, Forest have equalised, so that’s now 1-1.
15 min A long ball forward and Strand Larsen pins Yoro, who fouls him. Free-kick Palace, 40 yards out, Johnson to take.