EPL Gameweek 4: Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-0

Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on September 14, 2013 in Manchester, England.

Manchester United encountered no troubles whatsoever in seeing off Crystal Palace 2-0 at Old Trafford, courtesy of goals from Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Despite starting the game on a high tempo, with Michael Carrick going very close to scoring in as early as the third minute of the game, the Red Devils were kept in bay, unable to beat some resolute defending from Crystal Palace.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 45th minute as Ashley Young, who was earlier booked for attempting an exaggerated dive in the penalty area, earned a penalty for his team, after being brought down from behind by Kagisho Dikgacoi, a challenge for which he was shown a red card.

Robin Van Persie converted the resulting penalty kick to give his team a goal advantage going into the break. Though the visitors were defensively excellent, they had nothing to offer going forward. Dwight Gayle could not do much with their only chance of any worth in the first half.

As the second half resumed, the 10-men Crystal Palace were reduced to damage control mode. Anderson was substituted in the 63rd minute for the much-awaited introduction of Marouane Fellaini while Adnan Januzaj replaced Ashley Young.

Fellaini made his presence felt immediately with a dipping shot on the goal which the Palace keeper Speroni managed to save as he made a low dive.

In the 80th minute, Adlene Guedioura fouled Januzaj to give the home team a free-kick from 25 yards, which was converted by Wayne Rooney, who curled his effort over the wall and into Speroni’s bottom right corner as the game ended 2-0.