ESPN's recap of (fortunate?) vital win away to CP :p. 6 points for CL (playoffs) secure with better goal diff vs Pool?
Marouane Fellaini earns improved Manchester United a vital win
ESPN FC's Steve Nicol recaps Manchester United's victory over Crystal Palace.
LONDON -- Three points on Manchester United's 2-1 win vs. Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
1. Vital win for Man United
This was an important victory for Manchester United, following three consecutive defeats that amounted to their worst run of the campaign. Marouane Fellaini's header, which came after Julian Speroni missed Ashley Young's cross, sealed the three points.
The gap between Louis van Gaal's side and fifth-placed Liverpool had narrowed to just four points and, with their remaining fixtures against Arsenal, still fighting at the top of the table, and Hull, scrapping at the bottom, United needed to make the most of this opportunity against a mid-table side whose season is effectively over.
Fourth would represent around "par" for Van Gaal in his debut campaign at Old Trafford; maybe even a slight disappointment. It always seemed unlikely United would launch a true title charge but anything outside the Champions League places would have been unacceptable and arguably a sackable offence
You wonder how good United could have been without their early-season injury problems, or if Angel Di Maria had continued his good early-season form and if Radamel Falcao had properly settled.
It's worth remembering, too, that United were able to focus on the league this season, without the pressures of European football, and the extra strains of the Champions League will test their squad in 2015-16.
The injury issues remain troubling -- Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney were both forced to depart here -- but United are on the right track and, while Van Gaal's record isn't spectacular, he's provided a cohesive philosophy, given his players belief and has the ambition to push on next season.
2. United's midfield and attack functioning well
This was a routine, unspectacular victory but there were various signs that Van Gaal's methods have now been installed definitively. Recent results haven't been promising, and last weekend's second-half tactics in the 1-0 defeat to West Brom were puzzling, but there was little sign of panic at Selhurst Park -- it was back to Plan A.
With Robin van Persie ill, Rooney returned to his best position as centre-forward, and was regularly involved in build-up play during the first half before he was injured.
Van Persie has lost that ability -- his transformation from a deep-lying No. 10 into a prolific No. 9 means he now thrives only in the penalty box -- but Rooney's experience in midfield this season has improved his all-round game and he peeled away from the Palace centre-backs intelligently.
In deeper positions, Van Gaal has simply found the right balance. Young provides the tricky wing play from the left, Juan Mata the creativity from the right. Fellaini's physicality is useful from a left-of-centre midfield role, while Ander Herrera offers energy alongside him.
Meanwhile, Daley Blind, playing in the role often filled by Michael Carrick, dropped deep between the centre-backs to start passing moves and keep the possession tempo high.
United were a little fortunate to go ahead, when Mata converted a penalty after Scott Dann was adjudged to have handled Young's cross, and their winner was incredibly basic, as Young hanging a cross up for Fellaini to head in.
But the overall shape and approach play was promising and should improve next season when Van Gaal brings in new players -- Memphis Depay is only the first of several key names likely to join.
One attacker unlikely to play for United next season is Radamel Falcao. The Colombian was introduced at half-time after Rooney picked up a knock, and was again underwhelming. The enthusiasm was there, but the explosive pace and confident first touch of old was sorely lacking.
While Rooney had brought others into play smoothly, Falcao struggled and his overall play was tentative; when crosses came in, he nervously checked the goalkeeper's positioning and, when United had the ball in midfield he started runs too early, meaning he was often offside.
Unfortunately, Falcao's spell at Manchester United won't be remembered fondly. Along with the likes of George Weah, Andrei Shevchenko and Davor Suker, he's a world-class striker who simply arrived in England a little too late.
3. Palace unfortunate to lose
Alan Pardew started with a classic underdog strategy: his side defended deep, attacked quickly through wingers Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, and depended upon set pieces for clear-cut chances.
Captain Mile Jedinak headed narrowly over from a right-wing Joe Ledley cross and Palace had a clever routine prepared for a free kick towards the end of the first half, which didn't quite come off.
Pardew's key selection was using a third central midfielder and a 4-5-1 formation, rather than a second striker and a 4-4-2. The idea was simple: Manchester United were also using three central midfielders and Pardew wanted to match the opposition in the centre, with James McArthur at the top of the midfield triangle pressuring Blind.
It meant, however, that the game was effectively being played to United's rules. Palace are at their most effective when they're even more direct, often upsetting opponents with somewhat old-school, basic football.Thus, Glenn Murray was isolated up front.
Sure enough, 1-0 down at half-time, Pardew changed his formation. Central midfielder Ledley was sacrificed, McArthur moved deeper and Jason Puncheon -- surprisingly omitted from the start -- came on. He played on the left, meaning Bolasie played alongside Murray. Palace now had two up-front and four outright attackers.
The effect was obvious immediately. A couple of minutes into the second half, Bolasie twisted and turned before crossing, leading to a decent penalty shout. Then, left-back Pape Souare ventured forward down the left, before playing a low cross that Murray turned into the side-netting.
Jason Puncheon's free kick levelled for Crystal Palace but the hosts could not hold on to a point.
The crowd were fired up and the pressure continued to build. Puncheon went to ground dramatically inside the box, prompting calls for referee Michael Oliver to "even it up" and award a second penalty. He refused but, moments later, a long Speroni thump allowed Murray to win a free kick from Smalling on the edge of the box, which Puncheon curled home exquisitely.
The Eagles had their tails up, and could have gone ahead. McArthur dribbled through the United defence before poking the ball agonisingly wide, before Murray found himself through on goal, and was foiled by a fine David De Gea save, underlining why he was named the Premier League's best goalkeeper of the season. Damien Delaney also slashed a bouncing ball hopelessly wide.
Ultimately, Palace paid the price. As has happened frequently this season, United won the game primarily because their finishing and goalkeeping was superior to the opposition.
Michael Cox is the editor of Zonal Marking and a contributor to ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Zonal_Marking.
