Premier League news: Man Utd go third after Benjamin Sesko sinks Crystal Palace at Old Trafford
Manchester United edged past Crystal Palace thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško doing the damage for the hosts.
Maxence Lacroix had given Palace the lead in the first half, but it was not enough for Oliver Glasner’s troops as United found their footing in the second period to take the three points.
Michael Carrick’s side moved up to third in the Premier League table as a result, while the Eagles continue to hover precariously in 14th.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the action.
United gathering momentum under Carrick
Hello! Hello! It’s good to be back, good to be back.
After a brief hiatus, Mr Bore is back in the chair.
A year older. Certainly not wiser. But ever more optimistic that the dark days may be over. Or at least behind us a little bit.
Since the celebratory writings at the Emirates at the back end of January, United have been on the march with Michael Carrick’s army.
Home wins against Fulham and Spurs – while I was jollying it up on a big ship with Mrs Bore – a (relatively) disappointing draw at West Ham, and victory at Everton – where I was watching nervously from the home end mixed in and amongst the locals.
Two things struck me Monday night, and thankfully neither was a native, even as I tried to stay pokerfaced when Benjamin Šeško swept in the winner.
Firstly, there are many iterations of United over recent years that would have lost that game, particularly those involving Andre Onana between the sticks as the Toffees turned the United six-yard box into the Royal Rumble.
Secondly, Everton fans really hate Bruno Fernandes. Really, really hate him.
And from their vantage, I could see why as he moaned his way through the match, heckling the referee at every opportunity and generally being the annoying little shite we love so much.
I gave a little springtime whistle at the thought. Three points needed today, Reds. 10 matches unbeaten. Here we go.
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Palace start with a bang
Like the big bad wolf in lambing season, trouble reared its head inside four Old Trafford minutes.
There was no Royal Rumbling but it wasn’t needed. United went to sleep.
More accurately, Leny Yoro lost both focus and his man as Maxence Lacroix was gifted all the time in the world to head back across goal and calmly into the far corner as the young Frenchman stared into the sky with no idea where the ball was until the damage was done.
Ismaïla Sarr could have doubled the lead but for Senne Lammens beating his strike away and United were looking all a bit pedestrian and slow.
It didn’t take long for Diogo Dalot to start doing his thang – a misplaced pass here, a poor ball there – while Kobbie Mainoo, making his 50th Premier League start, headed straight into touch.
United needed a kick.
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Visitors take lead into half-time
Luke Shaw was replaced midway through the half after appearing to suffer a foot injury under challenge, Noussair Mazraoui thrown on.
United had yet to threaten. Palace keeper Dean Henderson, already with three clean sheets in four games against his former club, was looking a good bet to notch another.
And if you are into that sort of thing, United’s xG of 0.01 after 30 minutes was the lowest in any EPL match so far this season.
That said, an equaliser almost came from nothing.
A United corner was headed goalward by Harry Maguire and came back off Sarr but went dead. Šeško had a sighter from Fernandes’ centre but Henderson handled cleanly.
United were now seeing more of the ball as Palace dropped a bit deeper.
Fernandes curled a free-kick that Henderson needed to get a fingertip on to be sure and Casemiro nodded wide from another dangerous Bruno centre.
It was better, but there was still no breakthrough to speak of and Palace got to half-time with their lead intact.
Fernandes, Šeško turn things around
United had an early chance in the second half when Mbeumo almost danced through the Palace defence and Šeško’s follow-up was blocked, Casemiro heading wide again moments later.
But it was positive from the hosts and already much better.
It looked better than better when Cunha got the wrong side of Lacroix who was deemed to have made enough contact to bring the Brazilian down.
After a VAR check, the spot kick was given. The question now was whether there was to be any further sanction.
When referee Chris Kavanagh trotted over to the screen, it felt like it would end in doom for the Palace man and it did – red card.
It was Bruno vs Henderson to level it up. The Portuguese made no mistake. No clean sheet today, Deano.
United had to be patient for another chance, Fernandes flashing a long-range effort past the far post, but their next edged them ahead with 25 minutes left. And it was delicious.
Of course it was created from a familiar boot, with Bruno swinging another fantastic ball into the box where Šeško – who had been told off in the first half for not getting across his man by his skipper – gave himself enough room to throw his head at the ball and find the corner with a clinical finish.
It was his sixth goal of 2026 as a shirt that looked to have been weighing on those young shoulders so heavily is increasingly looking like it has been made to perfection by some posh Savile Row tailor.
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Michael Carrick at the wheel
Casemiro was denied after volleying at Henderson at the far post before Šeško was replaced with Amad Diallo, presumably to keep Palace on their heels as the game drew out and those legs sapped even more after their midweek European commitments.
But United were trying to manage the game out, rather than go hell for leather.
Diallo did almost seal it inside the eight minutes of added time only for Henderson to tip his effort wide from the edge of the box.
In the end it was another ‘Šeško Real Deal’ that proved to be the value. United up to the heady heights of third for the first time since May 2023.
It was far from convincing but does that really matter? Of course not!
It’s points that make prizes and the Champions League carrot is dangling tantalisingly close now.
And while there are tougher tests to come, starting with an albeit out of form Newcastle up on Tyneside on Wednesday night, maybe the biggest problem Carrick will face is lack of playing time.
But he’s at the wheel and is passing his driving test with flying colours so far.
It’s good to be back.
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