Manchester United’s title momentum was dramatically halted Wednesday forward of its go to to Premier League chief Arsenal on the weekend.
Main Crystal Palace 1-0 after 90 minutes at Selhurst Park, United regarded set to rack up a tenth straight win in all competitions and transfer as much as second within the desk, simply six factors off the highest.
Michael Olise, nonetheless, utterly modified the temper of the evening by scoring a free kick within the first minute of stoppage time to earn Palace a 1-1 draw.
“We had been 1-0 up. Within the second half we had plenty of area to kill them and go for the second. I by no means noticed we actually went for the second aim,” United supervisor Erik ten Hag mentioned. “It’s tough to say (why). I’ve to criticize my crew. Go for the second.”
Ten Hag’s frustration was evident after a outcome that modifications the narrative going into the sport towards Arsenal.
Now, as an alternative of having the ability to reduce the Londoners’ result in three factors, defeat would go away United 11 factors adrift having performed a recreation extra.
Ten Hag has up to now talked down United’s unlikely title problem, however the enchancment in his crew has been evident on the again of 9 straight wins earlier than Palace, together with a 2-1 victory towards second-place Manchester Metropolis final weekend.
United stays the one crew to have overwhelmed Arsenal within the league this season and a repeat efficiency on the Emirates Stadium would have been a significant assertion of intent.
It nonetheless may very well be, however the draw with Palace will really feel like a missed alternative after Bruno Fernandes had opened the scoring within the forty third.
United moved up from fourth to 3rd within the league — stage on factors with Manchester Metropolis.
Whereas Ten Hag and his United gamers had been left pissed off, Leeds can look ahead to an FA Cup fourth spherical match with Boreham Wooden or Accrington Stanley after a 5-2 rout of Cardiff of their third spherical replay.
CASEMIRO BLOW
As if a visit to high-flying Arsenal on Sunday is not daunting sufficient, United will likely be with out one in every of its most influential gamers.
Casemiro picked up a fifth yellow card of the season towards Palace, which means the midfielder will likely be suspended for Sunday’s recreation.
“He’s a very essential participant for us and a cause we’re on this place. However final time we beat Arsenal with out Casemiro. We have to do it once more,” mentioned Ten Hag.
Casemiro has been one in every of United’s greatest gamers this season, dropping simply two of the 18 video games he is began since becoming a member of from Actual Madrid in the summertime.
LEEDS RELIEF
Leeds put its league struggles behind it with a morale-boosting win within the FA Cup.
The 5-2 victory towards second-tier Cardiff ended a seven-game winless streak in all competitions.
It took a Ninetieth-minute aim from Sonny Perkins to salvage a 2-2 draw within the unique recreation however the replay was a way more one-sided affair.
Leeds led 3-0 after 36 minutes with two objectives from Wilfried Gnonto and one other from Rodrigo. Gnonto gave Leeds a flying begin with a shocking volley contained in the opening minute and fired residence his second after Rodrigo had struck his eleventh aim of the season.
Patrick Bamford struck twice within the second half, whereas Callum Robinson pulled two again for Cardiff.
Premier League survival stays Leeds’ precedence because it sits simply two factors away from the relegation zone.
“I felt very strongly earlier than the sport that we had been prepared for a robust efficiency. I advised the crew that. This was clearly an essential second for us, but it surely’s simply one other second within the growth we’re attempting to create,” Leeds supervisor Jesse Marsch mentioned.
“An essential second to collect momentum, however exhausting to say validation as a result of we nonetheless have a lot to do.”