Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Fernandes 57 pen, Sesko 65; Lacroix 4
Benjamin Sesko continued his red-hot streak as Manchester United recovered from the poorest of starts to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 and extend their resurgence under interim manager Michael Carrick to 19 points from a possible 21.
The Slovenia international, on his first start under the interim coach, rose highest to head home Bruno Fernandes’s cross 20 minutes from time. It was his seventh goal in eight appearances and it transformed a contest that had threatened to unravel for the hosts after Maxence Lacroix’s early opener.
Palace’s French centre-back endured an afternoon of extreme contrasts – scorer of the game’s first goal, then villain of the story after being dismissed for hauling down Matheus Cunha in the box, allowing Fernandes to level from the spot before Sesko’s decisive intervention.
The victory lifts United above Aston Villa and into third place on goal difference, a fascinating turn of events given that Unai Emery’s side were apparently in the title just a couple of months ago. United are also just eight points behind Manchester City and 10 behind leaders Arsenal with 10 games to go.
At this rate, how much of an improvement would they require in the summer to bring the Premier League trophy back to Old Trafford? A thought to ponder for those of the United persuasion.
But on this day at Old Trafford, United fell behind inside four minutes when Lacroix rose unchallenged to meet Brennan Johnson’s in-swinging corner. The Belgian directed his header across goal, the ball clipping the inside of Senne Lammens’s right post before settling in the net.
Feeling relieved after a hard-fought win! 🎬👊 pic.twitter.com/4QFS0QfFip
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 1, 2026
Carrick’s side had been warned moments earlier when Daniel Munoz burst down the right and fed Ismaila Sarr, the Senegal international forcing a sharp parry from Lammens. Glasner set up his side from the outset to exploit United’s flanks, where Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo found themselves pressed into defensive duties to assist Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot.
Things worsened for United when Shaw limped off and Noussair Mazraoui was called into an already unsettled backline. The home side struggled to stay in the tie yet hope surfaced before the interval. Harry Maguire’s header from a corner was goalbound until it struck Sarr. Fernandes’s dipping free-kick was tipped over by Henderson. Then another dead ball found Casemiro’s head only for the Brazilian to nod wastefully wide from close range.
United improved even further after the break and Sesko saw a shot blocked by Jaydee Canvot just two minutes in. Then things fell apart for Palace in the 56th minute. Cunha raced onto a through ball, Lacroix grappling with the Brazilian from outside the box before the contact continued inside. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially awarded only a penalty, but after consulting his pitchside monitor produced a red card to go with it. Fernandes stepped up to convert.
Eight minutes later, United were ahead. A weak Palace clearance dropped invitingly for Fernandes on the right flank. The United captain crossed, finding Sesko at the near post with greater appetite than Jaydee Canvot.
From there, things were smooth for United. Amad Diallo replaced the applauded Sesko, Mbeumo shifting into the central role. Diallo nearly added a third with a swivelled shot that Henderson touched behind, while Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo both went close in the dying stages.
