Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 2 analysis: Rojo lucky to escape red card as Delaney produces Ibrahimovic magic

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Giuseppe Muro15 December 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck a late winner as Manchester United secured victory at Crystal Palace after once again threatening to drop points from a winning position.

United had surrendered a lead in three of their previous four Premier League games and it looked set to go that way once again as James McArthur cancelled out Paul Pogba's controversial opener.

But Ibrahimovic was on hand to finish brilliantly from Pogba's through-ball with just two minutes remaining to seal a hard-fought 2-1 win for the visitors.

Here, Standard Sport picks out what we learnt at Selhurst Park

Palace are tightening up

An organised Palace did not get what they deserved. Alan Pardew knows his team will need to tighten up if they are to start climbing the table and they looked a lot more organised at the back here. But Palace were carved open for the United winner in the 88th minute as they went down at Selhurst Park. It was harsh on Palace, who had looked defensively sound until then.

Zlatan magic

Man Utd via Getty Images

Jose Mourinho brought Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United for nights like this. United were poor at Selhurst Park but a moment of quality from Ibrahimovic secured a crucial three points that mean they keep pace in the race for the top four. Ibrahimovic now has six goals in six games in all competitions.

United havn't learned traffic lessons

United had delayed kick-offs at both Tottenham and West Ham last season because they arrived late and they got to Selhurst Park less than an hour before kick-off tonight. Roads in south London were busier than usual because of a train strike, but United would have known that and should have allowed more time to get to the ground.

Damien Delaney has turned into Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Well, maybe. The 35-year-old Palace centre-back came up with a brilliant flick to set up James McArthur for the equaliser. Delaney again impressed at the back for Palace, who have looked a much better defensive unit since he was brought into the side.

Marcos Rojo is a lucky boy

The Manchester United defender got away with a two-footed lunge against Everton on Sunday and again escaped a red card for an identical tackle on Wilfried Zaha here. Referee Craig Pawson gave Rojo a yellow card and he was fortunate to stay on the pitch for another dangerous tackle.

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