Manchester United’s terrible season reached a new low on Monday as Erik ten Hag’s under-fire team were thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, piling more pressure on the beleaguered Dutchman.
With their injury problems continuing to mount, United fielded Casemiro alongside Jonny Evans in a makeshift backline and were torn to shreds by Oliver Gasner’s outstanding Eagles.
Aided by two Casemiro mistakes, Michael Olise scored two wonderful goals, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell joining him on the scoresheet on a memorable night for the hosts.
If anything, the scoreline flattered United, who have now won just one of their last seven Premier League games and sit eighth in the table, with their chances of European qualification under severe threat with fixtures against Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United to come.
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Olise put Palace ahead within 12 minutes, turning with ease between the lines before sitting Casemiro down and reaching the edge of the box, then stroking his finish past Andre Onana.
Michael Olise.
🦅 1-0 🔴#CPFC | #CRYMUN PIC.TWITTER.COM/H9OICWLQ4K
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) MAY 6, 2024
The Palace playmaker almost had a second moments later, but his goalbound shot was inadvertently blocked by Mateta with Onana scrambling.
United thought they had an equaliser midway through the first half as Casemiro’s back-post header looped in with Dean Henderson grounded after a collision with Rasmus Hojlund, but the Dane was penalised for a foul on the former Red Devils goalkeeper.
United then fell two goals behind just before half-time, Mateta easing past Evans in the left-hand channel before blasting his finish in at the near post.
Crystal Palace make it TWO!
It’s another brilliant solo goal, as Jean-Philippe Mateta breezes past Johnny Evans out wide, takes it onto his left foot, then fires an effort past Andre Onana into the roof of the net ☄️#CRYMUN PIC.TWITTER.COM/1WJRNWTDGC
— Premier League (@premierleague) MAY 6, 2024
Casemiro saw a second goal disallowed just after the break, heading Christian Eriksen’s free-kick against the post then converting on the rebound only to see the offside flag raised against him.
The game was over as a contest just before the hour mark, with Mitchell on hand to tap home inside the six-yard box after Joachim Andersen kept Adam Wharton’s cross alive at the back post.
Ten Hag’s visitors were further embarrassed nine minutes later, with Daniel Munoz shrugging Casemiro off the ball to find Olise, who lashed his shot past the helpless Onana from range.
Odsonne Edouard shot against the near post in stoppage time as United narrowly avoided conceding a fifth, but that will mean little on another chastening night for the Red Devils, who face three difficult fixtures to end the season before entering their first transfer window under the Jim Ratcliffe regime.
The double over United ✅😏#CPFC | #CRYMUN PIC.TWITTER.COM/CK7LE6AVOV
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) MAY 6, 2024
