Rafa: No go, Jonjo
Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera. Marcus Rashford was only fit enough for the bench.
But even with an all-star cast on the missing list, it was still a strong Red Devils line-up, but one that perhaps placed even more pressure on Paul Pogba to really dominate and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Pogba, with a new bleached blond haircut, looked in the mood to boss the game as he strutted around midfield, and you were certainly never going to miss him as he stood out from the crowd. But it was also another chance for Lukaku and, in his case, you never know quite which version you will get.
Will it be the big lumbering centre-forward or the one who showed enough quality to get United to pay £75million for him two years ago?
Sadly for Lukaku, it was the first version on display after just eight minutes, as Luke Shaw’s corner found the Belgium star completely unmarked as he raced into the box. But he only succeeded in smashing the ball over the crossbar.
Rather than let his head drop,
CRYSTAL PALACE: MAN UTD: REF: Lukaku made good after 33 minutes with a fantastic finish for his first goal in 10 games to give United the lead.
It was Shaw again who was the supplier. This time, the left-back made a powerful run forward from the left, fed Lukaku, and the No.9 showed tremendous composure as he picked his spot to guide a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.
How the mood has changed among the United fans in the away end. They used to go to away games without much hope, but now, even with big players missing, Solskjaer really has brought back the feel-good factor.
Palace have been in better form themselves and it was by no means one-way traffic. But they could not take their chances, as Jeffrey Schlupp headed just wide from Andros Townsend’s cross. And the visitors took control after 52 minutes when Lukaku scored his second.
Ashley Young’s corner was flicked on by Chris Smalling, headed on by Victor Lindelof, and Lukaku used all his power and strength to hold the ball up, turn, and fire home.
It should have been game over, but maybe the exertions and injuries from Sunday’s draw with Liverpool took their toll on United, and Palace got back into it through Joel Ward’s diving header after 66 minutes from Schlupp’s low cross.
But any thoughts of a Palace fightback were finally put to bed when Young got a third after 83 minutes with a brilliant finish.
Excellent work by Lukaku and then Pogba’s inviting pass helped Young wrap up another impressive audition for caretaker Solskjaer. WILF ZAHA has as many goals for Palace this month as he made appearances in the red of Manchester United.
His short, unhappy stint at Old Trafford, where he didn’t start a Premier League match, is now as distant a memory as his manager David Moyes at the club. United and Zaha are now enjoying happier times.
After 18 games without a goal from September, the Ivory Coast winger was on a streak as hot as the February weather after scoring in three Premier League games on the spin for the first time ever.
Unfortunately for Palace and Zaha (above), his best chance came to his head from an Andros Townsend cross after the break – definitely not the strongest part of his game.
The attacking trident with Townsend and new on-loan signing Michy Batshuayi has pace to burn and helped Roy Hodgson’s side to a six-match unbeaten run before last night.
Palace’s best stuff came down the left where Zaha was backed by Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp, and the Ghanaian provided the cross for Joel Ward’s headed goal.
But Zaha is the main man of the side and he enjoyed a good contest with Ashley Young last night with honours about even.
This team is set up to allow the 26-year-old to flourish – a fact acknowledged by his signing a five-year contract last summer to keep him at Palace until 2023. The £130,000 a week probably helped.
And the knowledge that the grass is not always greener. JONJO SHELVEY is fighting for his Newcastle future, with Rafa Benitez admitting there is no immediate prospect of a recall.
Shelvey celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, but failed even to make the bench for the second successive game.
And with rising star Sean Longstaff, 21, and in-form former Arsenal youngster Isaac Hayden, 23, proving to be two lynchpins in the Toon’s recent revival, the former Liverpool midfielder knows there is little chance of a call-up any time soon.
Benitez admitted as much after the Magpies’ 2-0 win over Burnley, which opened up a seven point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Confirming Shelvey had been available after thigh injury, the Toon boss said: “Obviously, Jonjo will need to improve his match fitness, but the only way to do that is by playing and it is not easy at the moment.”
Twelve months ago, Shelvey looked an outside bet for Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad.
But Benitez added: “We have 24 players and the 11 starters are doing well.
“You can change one or two, but they are still doing well. If we have a chance, I will give the others an opportunity so everybody can be involved.”
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