Michael Oles, Crystal Palace player, stuns Manchester United with a late settlement | Premier League

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Just when it looked as if Manchester United had found their magic again after all this time, a stunning free-kick from Michael Ulis denied Erik ten Hag’s side a 10th successive win in all competitions and a runners-up finish in the Premier League. Bruno Fernandes’ first-half goal seemed to provide more convincing evidence that the club that have been crowned champions of England more than any other could be serious title contenders once again.

With a trip to face Arsenal in the Emirates coming up on Sunday, United trail the leaders by eight points having played a game more. They will know it has to be much closer after giving up their advantage with almost the last kick of the game against a spirited Crystal Palace side who simply refused to give up.

A late yellow card for Casemiro also shattered a vital midfield cog against Arsenal as Marcus Rashford failed to continue his impressive scoring run in seven straight matches and it was Patrick Vieira’s side who celebrated full time as they avoided a fourth goal. direct defeat at home.

United have not recorded 10 consecutive wins in all competitions since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and this performance has shown why they are yet to become true contenders despite all the progress made under ten Hag. Having taken the lead at half-time through a well-designed goal set up for Fernandes by Christian Eriksen, with his seventh assist of the season, the visitors failed to press home after the break and allowed the determined Palace back into the game. While Wout Weghorst showed some promising touches on his debut after arriving on loan from Burnley, United rarely threatened to score again after the heroic derby win over Manchester City on Saturday.

Palace, by contrast, struggled to get back on their feet after the World Cup break and needed this build-up having scored just once in their last three home matches. American fullback Chris Richards was outstanding on his debut while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odson Edouard paired up well at times in a revamped attacking line.

It was this combination that almost created Edward’s first chance in the opening minutes, but the former Celtic striker refused to shoot, with United immediately sending a warning of the threat he posed at the break through Rashford’s feet. Palace won that match on the final day of last season to cap Ralf Rangnick’s brief and memorable spell at United, but this time the visitors looked dangerous whenever they had the ball.

Bruno Fernandes (right) celebrates his goal with Christian Eriksen (left) and Manchester United first-choice player Wott Wieghurst at Selhurst Park. Photo: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images

Luke Shaw fired wide after 15 minutes from a fine finish from Anthony before Lisandro Martínez – on his 25th birthday and first start since winning the World Cup with Argentina – was brought down for treatment from a head injury and headed back. A black bandage wrapped around his head. A moment’s hesitation from Terek Mitchell allowed Anthony to see the goal but the Brazilian’s shot went just wide.

A few choice words between the former Ajax striker and Fernandes after their wires were connected in one move hinted at some of United’s growing frustrations and Weghorst should have been better at his first big chance after he latched on to a pinpoint cross from Shaw. On the other end, Marc Guehi connected with an Ulizi free-kick but was unable to direct it on goal as Palace found themselves restricted to the cross attacking forward.

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That was until just before half-time, when Olise cut Edouard in on the edge of the penalty area and it took a superb save from David de Gea to deflect the French striker’s shot onto the crossbar. Less than three minutes later, United had them push when Rashford’s ball volleyed in Christian Eriksen and his cut-off found Fernandes in acres of space to slam the ball past Vicente Guaita.

Martínez’s early booking after Olise’s skilful feint on the touchline early in the second half was a warning that Palace were not going down without a fight and it took a brilliant interception from Casemiro to stop Édouard from racing for goal. The introduction of Scott McTominay in place of Weghorst midway through the second half was perhaps an indication that Ten Hag was happy to protect what he had and it was to prove an expensive approach in the end.

The Scottish midfielder thought he should have been awarded a penalty after he went down in the area under a challenge from Richards but the VAR showed there was no contact. It took another sharp save from De Gea to clear Guehi’s header from the Ulys corner as Palace kept up the pressure in the closing stages.

United’s defense held firm until Ulis took the lead in the final minute after a foul by Jeffrey Schlupp, firing a superb free kick off the crossbar that took all the wind out of United’s sails.

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