Man Utd suffer humiliation at Palace to leave European hopes in tatters

Crystal Palace thrashed Manchester United 4-0 to heap more pressure on the beleaguered Erik ten Hag and underline the progress they have made under new manager Oliver Glasner.

Incisive first-half goals from Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta set the Eagles on their way, taking advantage of a makeshift United defence which included Casemiro at centre-back, and things only got worse for the visitors after the break.

Tyrick Mitchell added a third before the excellent Olise grabbed his second and Palace’s fourth after a disastrous piece of defending from Casemiro.

Palace have now done the league double over the Red Devils for the very first time and in the process moved Ten Hag’s team’s goal difference into negative figures.

Defeat leaves United in eighth spot, outside of the European places with three games remaining and a daunting match against Arsenal to come on Sunday.

Palace stay 14th but now have 43 points.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning” was being sung by the Crystal Palace supporters and while that seems unlikely – Man United have an FA Cup final still to come this season – this game certainly felt like another nail in Ten Hag’s coffin.

United were woeful, looking unprepared and out of their depth. The shambolic display of Casemiro in central defence was the most glaring example, and while the players undoubtedly bear some responsibility, questions have to be asked of the manager who played him out of position and left him there to struggle all game long.

If the new United hierarchy had not already decided to move on from Ten Hag in the summer, the embarrassing nature of this defeat surely makes it a more likely proposition.

Man United couldn’t get near him and Olise made them pay, consistently finding space and driving forward when he had the ball. Both of his goals were very well taken, in spite of the calamitous defending which preceded them.

Crystal Palace: Henderson 5, Munoz 7, Clyne 7, Andersen 7, Richards 7, Mitchell 7, Wharton 8, Hughes 6, Eze 7, Olise 8, Mateta 7. Subs: Edouard 6, Riedewald 6, Guehi 6, Ayew 5, Schlupp 5.

Manchester United: Onana 5, Wan-Bissaka 5, Casemiro 2, Evans 4, Dalot 6, Mainoo 5, Eriksen 3, Mount 4, Antony 4, Garnacho 5, Hojlund 5. Subs: Amrabat 4, Amad 5, Wheatley 5.

GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 MAN UNITED (OLISE) 12′ – Palace take the lead through a brilliant goal! Olise beats Casemiro in midfield with quick feet, carries the ball forward, United back off and Olise punishes them, shooting low and past Onana.

DISALLOWED GOAL! 27′ – From a corner, Casemiro heads goalwards – with a looping trajectory – and the ball ends up in the net after Henderson whiffs with his punch! But the officials save Henderson’s blushes, awarding a free kick we’ll charitably describe as soft for Hojlund’s challenge on him.

GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 2-0 MAN UNITED (MATETA) 40′ – Palace win the ball in midfield and in one Richards pass they have a two-on-two break. Mateta skips past Evans and then rifles home expertly.

GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 3-0 MAN UNITED (MITCHELL) 58′ – A beautiful Wharton cross almost reaches Andersen, but for Dalot’s interjection. Yet all he can do is divert the ball into Mitchell’s path and the Palace academy graduate taps in.

GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 4-0 MAN UNITED (OLISE) 66′ – Casemiro tries and fails to shepherd the ball out and is mugged by Munoz. He cuts the ball back to Olise, who fires past an out-of-position Onana. This is a rout!

OFF THE POST! 90+2′– Edouard bamboozles Casemiro on the left, then rifles a shot off the near post from 20 yards.