Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
Did not go. Of course, I did not. First one I missed from London and they win! Still moving house and lots to sort so had to miss one! Watched on a very erratic stream but saw enough to put something together!
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The Blades got back to winning way and finally won a game in London at this level for the first time in 28 years as they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. United were far from their best in this one but another superb defensive performance from the Blades ensured that a calamitous own goal from Vicente Guaita was enough for another huge three points. United move onto 36 points and with many of the rest of the results, the Blades can surely now feel they have done enough to stay in the division and start looking at other targets such as a top half finish or even a Europa League place.
United threw Sander Berge straight in for his United debut as there was no place for Mo Besic who was not in the matchday squad. It was the same team as the previous league game against Manchester City. Palace started with Zaha, Benteke and Ayew up the top of the field. Skipper Milivojevic was back in the side and former Blade loanee Gary Cahill started in defence. Andre Townsend was fit enough to take his place on the bench.
The game began in extremely windy conditions and there was little quality on display early on. Debutant Berge was neat and tidy and nearly got on the end of McBurnie’s header with the first half chance of the game going to United. Palace started to get on the ball more and force United back who were defending deep, perhaps concerned about the pace down the sides. Palace won two corner and Benteke then nearly got in from open play but Egan made a good block.
Baldock went in the book for a late tackle on the dangerous Zaha and the subsequent free was half cleared before Milivojevic fired well over in the first effort towards goal. Tompkins was then booked for a late foul as Fleck got to the ball just before him. Benteke then pulled a shot wide as Palace were now looking the more comfortable in possession. United had been sloppy with it and a bit cautious off the ball, standing off and allowing Palace to have it. Despite this, the home side had not created much at all and were relying on the outlet of Zaha to try and forge an opening.
McArthur had the first effort on goal, saved comfortably by Henderson before Palace had another spell of play and United were struggling to get a foothold in the game. The one positive is Palace had created little too. Baldock caught Zaha and must have been concerned but like the Wolves away game, he got away with it. It could have been another yellow even though once again Zaha threw himself to the floor. The free kick was palmed away by Henderson for another corner and the home side won three straight corners as United were just content to stay in the game at this stage. A couple of dangerous crossfield balls from Zaha just evaded Ayew and then Benteke as United breathed a sigh of relief.
Cahill headed off target and then van Aanholt fired well over the bar. United continued to very conservative. Berge had been neat and tidy and the centre backs had been solid but we had seen little from United as an attacking force as the half time whistle went.
The second half saw Fleck have an effort blocked as the game started to open up more. United gave it away sloppily and Palace broke but Benteke could not get power on his shot as he came inside after another slalom run from Zaha. Henderson made the comfortable save in the end.
United were at least showing more as an attacking force and Sharp won the corner from a shot on the angle blocked by Cahill.
Out of nothing the Blades took the lead from this set play. Norwood swung over the in-swinging corner and as Sharp shaped to challenge GUAITA caught the ball but inexplicably dropped it over the line by at least 2 or 3 yards. The check on goal line technology was probably not even needed but confirmed the goal. A few Palace players tried to ask for a foul but Sharp had barely even touched him. It was a howler and United had the lead, even if it was underserved.
After the goal United found a new confidence and started to move it about better, keeping the ball for longer periods. Baldock had struggled defensively but his tenacious play saw him commit two defenders and win the foul. Norwood took it after deliberation with him, Fleck and Berge. Guaita had to make the diving save to tip over to prevent the Blades doubling their lead.
Palace had their best chance of the game when clever play by Zaha saw him come inside and his pass saw McArthur fire a powerful drive but Henderson was able to push away. It was a good save but was relatively close to the Blades keeper.
Basham went down under a clash of heads and had to come back on after treatment wearing what could only be described as black gaffer tape around his bonce in an attempt to stem the blood. His first involvement after the bad cut was to head it away twice. Of course. Typical commitment from Basham.
Mousset came on for Sharp and almost had an immediate impact as McBurnie cleverly played him in and his shot was saved by Guaita. Milivojevic was the latest to get a card as he hauled down McBurnie before Lundstram came on for Berge who got a lusty hand from the Blades following in the Arthur Wait stand, who recognised a promising debut. Fleck then tried his hand at stopping Zaha, to no avail and he was rightly given a yellow card.
The Palace winger then went down feigning a head injury after another foul. His antics were pathetic at times. A great player but someone who does all he can to gain an advantage at times and sometimes this detracts from what he does so well. Palace had begun to get frustrated but had a few chances as van Aanholt had a shot blocked before the home side had a great chance to level. McArthur’s cross was a good one and evaded everyone but Lundstram maybe did enough to just put Tompkins off who headed wide. He really needed to at least hit the target.
On 72 minutes, there was a moment of controversy as Ward caught Stevens quite late and referee Andy Madley brandished an immediate red card. It seemed harsh at the time but maybe the Palace defender had shown his studs or gone over the ball. Replays showed it was not really a red card and after Madley wisely looked at the monitor it was downgraded to a yellow card. VAR has been incredibly frustrating to say the least this season, but here it was used well to get the right decision even if it did not go for United. We of course had a similar decision get reversed for Basham at Norwich.
Lundstram blazed over when he maybe had a bit more time before Palace made another change with Townsend coming on for Benteke. Meyer then came on for McCarthy as the game entered the final 10 minutes. United had been much better on and off the ball since the goal and Stevens almost made the game safe after a one two with Mousset saw him in but his shot with the outside of his foot was pushed away by Guaita. Baldock could not quite force a chance on the rebound.
McBurnie then had a headed effort blocked although a foul was given in the build-up. United actually had created the better chances in the final spell of the game and Egan hooked off target after another dangerous Norwood corner fell to him. Kouyate replaced McArthur with the home side’s final change as the game ticked past the 85th minute mark. Mousset and Stevens had more chances for United to seal it as they had men over and United’s game management had been very good as the match entered stoppage time. There were six minutes to be played which was about right after the Basham stoppage. Palace won a corner but United once again cleared the ball with the three centre backs absolutely imperious once again. The second corner fell to Zaha but Norwood and then Egan made key blocks as Palace began to run out of ideas. A final corner was cleared and after Osborn came on, Norwood rolled the ball into the corner and out to waste more valuable time.
Palace launched it forward once more but Stevens hooked clear and a final clearance from Norwood saw the final whistle go and another huge three points for the Blades. United went to their fans with the new Norwegian signing Berge getting a rendition of his new chant, to the tune of ‘She’s Electric!’ by Oasis. The debutant clearly was touched by it and gave a heart sign to the delighted Blades following!
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The Blades got back to winning way and finally won a game in London at this level for the first time in 28 years as they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. United were far from their best in this one but another superb defensive performance from the Blades ensured that a calamitous own goal from Vicente Guaita was enough for another huge three points. United move onto 36 points and with many of the rest of the results, the Blades can surely now feel they have done enough to stay in the division and start looking at other targets such as a top half finish or even a Europa League place.
United threw Sander Berge straight in for his United debut as there was no place for Mo Besic who was not in the matchday squad. It was the same team as the previous league game against Manchester City. Palace started with Zaha, Benteke and Ayew up the top of the field. Skipper Milivojevic was back in the side and former Blade loanee Gary Cahill started in defence. Andre Townsend was fit enough to take his place on the bench.
The game began in extremely windy conditions and there was little quality on display early on. Debutant Berge was neat and tidy and nearly got on the end of McBurnie’s header with the first half chance of the game going to United. Palace started to get on the ball more and force United back who were defending deep, perhaps concerned about the pace down the sides. Palace won two corner and Benteke then nearly got in from open play but Egan made a good block.
Baldock went in the book for a late tackle on the dangerous Zaha and the subsequent free was half cleared before Milivojevic fired well over in the first effort towards goal. Tompkins was then booked for a late foul as Fleck got to the ball just before him. Benteke then pulled a shot wide as Palace were now looking the more comfortable in possession. United had been sloppy with it and a bit cautious off the ball, standing off and allowing Palace to have it. Despite this, the home side had not created much at all and were relying on the outlet of Zaha to try and forge an opening.
McArthur had the first effort on goal, saved comfortably by Henderson before Palace had another spell of play and United were struggling to get a foothold in the game. The one positive is Palace had created little too. Baldock caught Zaha and must have been concerned but like the Wolves away game, he got away with it. It could have been another yellow even though once again Zaha threw himself to the floor. The free kick was palmed away by Henderson for another corner and the home side won three straight corners as United were just content to stay in the game at this stage. A couple of dangerous crossfield balls from Zaha just evaded Ayew and then Benteke as United breathed a sigh of relief.
Cahill headed off target and then van Aanholt fired well over the bar. United continued to very conservative. Berge had been neat and tidy and the centre backs had been solid but we had seen little from United as an attacking force as the half time whistle went.
The second half saw Fleck have an effort blocked as the game started to open up more. United gave it away sloppily and Palace broke but Benteke could not get power on his shot as he came inside after another slalom run from Zaha. Henderson made the comfortable save in the end.
United were at least showing more as an attacking force and Sharp won the corner from a shot on the angle blocked by Cahill.
Out of nothing the Blades took the lead from this set play. Norwood swung over the in-swinging corner and as Sharp shaped to challenge GUAITA caught the ball but inexplicably dropped it over the line by at least 2 or 3 yards. The check on goal line technology was probably not even needed but confirmed the goal. A few Palace players tried to ask for a foul but Sharp had barely even touched him. It was a howler and United had the lead, even if it was underserved.
After the goal United found a new confidence and started to move it about better, keeping the ball for longer periods. Baldock had struggled defensively but his tenacious play saw him commit two defenders and win the foul. Norwood took it after deliberation with him, Fleck and Berge. Guaita had to make the diving save to tip over to prevent the Blades doubling their lead.
Palace had their best chance of the game when clever play by Zaha saw him come inside and his pass saw McArthur fire a powerful drive but Henderson was able to push away. It was a good save but was relatively close to the Blades keeper.
Basham went down under a clash of heads and had to come back on after treatment wearing what could only be described as black gaffer tape around his bonce in an attempt to stem the blood. His first involvement after the bad cut was to head it away twice. Of course. Typical commitment from Basham.
Mousset came on for Sharp and almost had an immediate impact as McBurnie cleverly played him in and his shot was saved by Guaita. Milivojevic was the latest to get a card as he hauled down McBurnie before Lundstram came on for Berge who got a lusty hand from the Blades following in the Arthur Wait stand, who recognised a promising debut. Fleck then tried his hand at stopping Zaha, to no avail and he was rightly given a yellow card.
The Palace winger then went down feigning a head injury after another foul. His antics were pathetic at times. A great player but someone who does all he can to gain an advantage at times and sometimes this detracts from what he does so well. Palace had begun to get frustrated but had a few chances as van Aanholt had a shot blocked before the home side had a great chance to level. McArthur’s cross was a good one and evaded everyone but Lundstram maybe did enough to just put Tompkins off who headed wide. He really needed to at least hit the target.
On 72 minutes, there was a moment of controversy as Ward caught Stevens quite late and referee Andy Madley brandished an immediate red card. It seemed harsh at the time but maybe the Palace defender had shown his studs or gone over the ball. Replays showed it was not really a red card and after Madley wisely looked at the monitor it was downgraded to a yellow card. VAR has been incredibly frustrating to say the least this season, but here it was used well to get the right decision even if it did not go for United. We of course had a similar decision get reversed for Basham at Norwich.
Lundstram blazed over when he maybe had a bit more time before Palace made another change with Townsend coming on for Benteke. Meyer then came on for McCarthy as the game entered the final 10 minutes. United had been much better on and off the ball since the goal and Stevens almost made the game safe after a one two with Mousset saw him in but his shot with the outside of his foot was pushed away by Guaita. Baldock could not quite force a chance on the rebound.
McBurnie then had a headed effort blocked although a foul was given in the build-up. United actually had created the better chances in the final spell of the game and Egan hooked off target after another dangerous Norwood corner fell to him. Kouyate replaced McArthur with the home side’s final change as the game ticked past the 85th minute mark. Mousset and Stevens had more chances for United to seal it as they had men over and United’s game management had been very good as the match entered stoppage time. There were six minutes to be played which was about right after the Basham stoppage. Palace won a corner but United once again cleared the ball with the three centre backs absolutely imperious once again. The second corner fell to Zaha but Norwood and then Egan made key blocks as Palace began to run out of ideas. A final corner was cleared and after Osborn came on, Norwood rolled the ball into the corner and out to waste more valuable time.
Palace launched it forward once more but Stevens hooked clear and a final clearance from Norwood saw the final whistle go and another huge three points for the Blades. United went to their fans with the new Norwegian signing Berge getting a rendition of his new chant, to the tune of ‘She’s Electric!’ by Oasis. The debutant clearly was touched by it and gave a heart sign to the delighted Blades following!
