Impressive Palace unlucky not to win
In the end this game was a fairly dour struggle that failed to turn in many real highlights. Most of the real Kodak moments belonged to Palace. The home side was switched on from the kick off, relentlessly pressuring United’s ball carriers into mistakes. On another day, one of these errors would have been put away.
Former United winger Wilfred Zaha was a constant thorn in his old club’s side. Zaha tormented Italian full back Matteo Darmian mercilessly throughout the contest. Louis van Gaal was forced to withdraw the fullback such were his struggles.
On the other side of the pitch Yannick Bolasie was engaging in a fascinating duel with Marcos Rojo. Rojo fared considerably better than his Italian teammate but in the end Bolasie probably got the better of him. Bolasie was denied by a brilliant David de Gea reflex save that deflected his goal bound volley onto the crossbar.
Yohan Cabaye was also guilty of squandering the best chance of the game as he failed to connect with a side foot with the goal at his mercy. The goal would have delivered Palace all three points.
Still there was plenty of positives for Alan Pardew and his men to take away from this game. They had thoroughly outplayed a United side that less than a month ago, looked as if they could challenge for Premier League honours. The Champions League places may be a bridge too far for this Palace side but don’t discount them from European action all together just yet.
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