September 14 2013

Holloway: Watched from the stands after being banned for two games from the touchline

Crystal Palace put in a battling performance against Manchester United but were defeated by two goals from Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Ian Holloway was forced to make a change in defence after Joel Ward was ruled out with a calf injury.

Adrian Mariappa, a transfer deadline day signing replaced him at right back, but Palace were otherwise unchanged from the side which beat Sunderland.

Predictably United had a lot of the possession, but were failing to carve out clear cut chances, apart from a 25 yard effort from Michael Carrick.

United then resorted to cheating their way into the game, by claiming for two seperate penalties.

First Patrick Evra, and then Ashley Young tried to cheat the referee by claiming that they had been fouled. Young received a yellow card for his actions, as TV replays clearly showed he kicked Kagisho Dikgacoi leg, in an attempt to earn a penalty.

Rooney and Van Persie had further chances to take the lead for the home side, but then Dwight Gayle almost converted for the Eagles after beating Rio Ferdinand for a ball in the air, but agonisingly clipped a ball past the far post.

Unfortunately the game took a turn for the worst for Palace just before the break, when a poor pass let in Ashley Young, who was fouled by Dikgacoi outside the box, but referee Jonathan Moss decided it was a penalty, and sent off the South African.

The second half was more damage limitation for the Eagles, as they struggled to carve many efforts on goal. Young and Van Persie had further efforts to put the game beyond Palace.

Palace gave debuts from the bench to Jimmy Kebe, Cameron Jerome and Adlene Guedioura to give themselves fresh pairs of legs, but it wasn't enough to get them back into it.

In the 81st minute United double their lead through a free kick from Rooney, and it was game over for the boys in Black.

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