Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace: Red Devils canter keeps top four hopes alive

A Damien Delaney own goal and stunning strike from Matteo Darmian keep the Red Devils' hopes of a top four finish alive

Manchester United blew the race for the top four wide open with a 2-0 victory overCrystal Palace at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal's men were in total control of a game that their manager had described as “must win” from the moment Damien Delaney sliced a Matteo Darmian cross into his own goal in the third minute.

Darmian then fired home a spectacular half-volley nine minutes after the break to leave understrength Palace just trying to keep the scoreline respectable.

The win took United to within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal – who play their game in hand against West Brom on Thursday night – and two points behind Manchester City in third.