5 PIVOTAL UNITED WINS AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE
Manchester United head to Crystal Palace this weekend in need of a morale boost, maybe even a springboard, after the Capital One Cup defeat and goalless home draw in the derby.
Could the following important wins over the Eagles inspire the Reds at Selhurst Park on Saturday?
United 2-0 Palace, Division One, 11 April 1973
This was a vital win at Old Trafford, as both sides battled to avoid relegation. The Reds had been trounced 5-0 at Selhurst Park earlier in the season and manager Frank O’Farrell was sacked three days after that defeat, just 18 months after taking the job. In the Old Trafford return, goals from Brian Kidd and Willie Morgan secured a crucial victory for Tommy Docherty’s United, who went on to survive the drop by seven points. Palace, however, were relegated.
United 1-0 Palace, FA Cup final replay, 17 May 1990
This Wembley win yielded the first of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 38 major trophies at United and heralded the dawn of a glorious new decade. Following a 3-3 draw after extra-time in the first game, the Reds triumphed 1-0 in a less eventful replay, thanks to Lee Martin's second and final goal for the club. Current Palace boss Alan Pardew played for the Eagles in both matches, having scored the winner in the semi-final against Liverpool.
Palace 0-2 United, Premier League, 21 April 1993
Goals from Mark Hughes – his 16th of the season – and Paul Ince took United to the brink of a first league championship in 26 years as the brave new world of the Premier League arrived. The mood in the away end at Selhurst Park became even more celebratory as United fans learned that title-race rivals Aston Villa were on course for a costly 3-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. Eleven days later, Villa lost 3-0 again, this time at home to relegation-battling Oldham Athletic, and United were crowned champions without having to kick another ball. The season ended with the Reds 10 points clear at the top.
United 2-0 Palace, FA Cup semi-final replay, 12 April 1995
After drawing 2-2 in the original tie at Villa Park, the two sides were forced into another FA Cup replay at the same ground, and the Reds got the better of Alan Smith’s team thanks to first-half goals from Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister. The latter had played a key role in the first game, too, as he netted an extra-time equaliser to keep his side in the competition. But United went on to lose the final, 1-0 to Everton, courtesy of a Paul Rideout goal at Wembley.
Palace 1-2 United, Premier League, 9 May 2015
A late-season win at Selhurst Park all but sealed the Reds' return to the Champions League in Louis van Gaal’s first season in charge. It was a crucial result as three straight defeats against Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion before the trip to south London had put qualification in some doubt. A first-half Juan Mata penalty had been cancelled out by Jason Puncheon, before Marouane Fellaini's late header secured the three points and put United within one victory of a top-four finish and a place in Europe's elite competition (albeit in the qualifying round).
http://www.manutd.com