Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 2: Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabs late winner to boost Jose Mourinho
Swede has 14 goals for the season and eight in last eight games to help United record first consecutive league wins since August
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ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC scored a timely late winner as Manchester United emerged 2-1 winners at Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils dominated possession at Selhurst Park and were in total control before going ahead just before half-time thanks to a controversial strike from Paul Pogba.
Replays indicated the ball hit Ibrahimovic's arm before finding the Frenchman in an offside position and Palace were forced to up their game for the second 45.
But it took a piece of genius from Damien Delaney to split United's defence open and send James McArthur through on goal, with the Scot firing past David De Gea to send the home fans wild.
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However, it was Ibrahimovic who had the last say as his 14th goal of the season - and his eighth in eight matches - stole all three points for the visitors.
However, Mourinho was not a happy man for much of the game after seeing a number of decisions go against his side.
Joe Ledley appeared to handball during a clearance in his box while Marcos Rojo's header was wrongly disallowed for offside.
The Argentine himself was lucky not to see red in the first half for a nasty two-footed challenge on Wilfried Zaha.
While Wayne Rooney failed to keep his emotions in check when he was subbed with ten minutes remaining in favour of Marcus Rashford.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Eric Bailly made his first start in two months at right-back but gave his boss a fright when he went down injured after just five minutes. The unfortunate Ivorian was then caught on the knee by Lee 15 minutes later and was eventually subbed early on in the second half.
- Wilfried Zaha came up against his former club with two goals and five assists in his last seven matches but he paid Marcos Rojo too much respect early on when he should have been isolating the Argentine and making runs out wide.
- Christian Benteke had scored five goals in his last five league matches but the big man was deprived of any service in the air as United’s compact defence squeezed tight to deny him space in the box.
- Wayne Rooney needed just one goal to match Bobby Charlton’s all-time record of 249 but his unorthodox position on the left wing saw him get nowhere near close to goal. And the captain’s frustration was clear to see when he was subbed with ten minutes remaining, banging his boots against the dug-out wall.
- United arrived having lost their last three league away games in London but that was probably lost on Jose Mourinho as he savoured back-to-back wins for the first time since August.
- With Henrikh Mkhitaryan crocked, there wasn’t much width or players making runs in behind for United. But Palace were so lacklustre before their equaliser it worked in Mourinho’s favour as his side kept a compact shape.
- Crystal Palace have lost more league games to United than any other side and Alan Pardew is sure to be feeling the heat again with just one win in his last 11 games.
- Pogba scored the opener but Palace will feel hard done by after the ball struck Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hand as the Frenchman ventured into an offside position. It was Pogba’s fifth goal since returning to Old Trafford last summer.
- Rojo was lucky not to see red for the second time this month after a two-footed challenge on Wilfried Zaha. He produced the same kind of tackle on Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and is a lucky man to have gone unpunished twice.
- A new defender surely has to be on Mourinho’s shopping list next month. United’s backline were cut open by Damien Delaney’s cheeky flick, allowing James McArthur to slot home unopposed.
- Ibrahimovic's late winner was his 14th since joining on a free transfer - and was his eighth goal in as many games.
THE BIG PICTURE
Crystal Palace next five fixtures:
Chelsea (H): 17 Dec (Prem)
Watford (A): 26 Dec (Prem)
Arsenal (A): 1 Jan (Prem)
Swansea (H): 3 Jan (Prem)
Bolton (A): 7 Jan (FA)
Man United next five fixtures:
West Brom (A): 17 Dec (Prem)
Sunderland (H): 26 Dec (Prem)
Middlesbrough (H): 31 Dec (Prem)
West Ham (A): 2 Jan (Prem)
Reading (H): 7 Jan (EFL)
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Kelly 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6, Ward 6, McArthur 7 (Campbell 5), Cabaye 7, Flamini 6 (Ledley 6), Lee 6 (Fryers 5), Zaha 7, Benteke 6
Subs not used: Speroni, Townsend, Husin, Wan-Bissaka
Goal: McArthur 66’
Booked: Kelly, Delaney
Manchester United: De Gea 6, Bailly 7 (Darmian 6), Jones 7, Rojo 6, Blind 7, Herrera 7, Carrick 6, Pogba 9, Mata 6 (Lingard 6), Ibrahimovic 7, Rooney 7 (Rashford 5)
Subs not used: Young, Romero, Fellaini, Schweinsteiger
Goals: Pogba 45’+2, Ibrahimovic 88’
Booked: Rojo, Pogba, Rashford
Star Man: Paul Pogba
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaking to Match of the Day: "It was very difficult but very deserved. In the first half we were in control. In the second half they had a little reaction and got the bonus of the goal and then we went into our best period of the game.
"For 20 minutes we were almost unstoppable. Their goalkeeper made a magnificent save from Rooney's shot, we had Mata's goal, a penalty (appeal) and our goal. It was an amazing reaction and I am really pleased for the players."