Manchester United endured another low in their rollercoaster season as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s brace secured Crystal Palace a fourth win in their last six trips to Old Trafford and Lisandro Martinez suffered a serious-looking injury.
Ruben Amorim had hoped to have turned a corner after racking up three straight wins in all competitions since a 3-1 loss to Brighton led him to suggest this might be the “worst team” in the club’s history.
But United’s first Premier League home game since then ended in another painful defeat, with Albion’s rivals Palace running out 2-0 victors thanks to Mateta’s second-half double.
Oliver Glasner’s Eagles moved above the Red Devils with their third straight win on the road, leaving Amorim’s men in 13th place after an afternoon that underlined the rebuild required.
United fans will be hoping for improvements before Monday’s transfer deadline – especially with Marcus Rashford heading on loan to Aston Villa – and how they could do with a striker like Mateta.
The Palace favourite was denied by a superb Andre Onana save in the first half, but after the break reacted to a Maxence Lacroix header coming off the crossbar to open the scoring before adding another late on.
If an 11th league defeat of the season was not enough, United saw centre-back Martinez carried off the pitch on a stretcher in tears after sustaining a knee injury.
Murmurs of frustration greeted the final whistle from those left inside Old Trafford, where the hosts had made a bright start after paying tribute to those lost in the Munich air disaster.
Kobbie Mainoo – surprisingly started up front – looked lively, with fine footwork followed by him cutting back for Alejandro Garnacho to get away a blocked shot.
United went closer still in the seventh minute as Mainoo collected a pass from Amad Diallo and saw a low shot taken on to the post by a Lacroix deflection.
Daniel Munoz headed narrowly off target when Palace launched their first meaningful attack, but Amorim’s men were pushing hardest.
Claims for a foul in the build-up fell on deaf ears and Amorim turned to Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as United hunted a leveller with 20 minutes remaining.
Another header from a free-kick caused problems as Lerma’s ball trickled threateningly across the face of goal, before a lengthy break in play due to a serious-looking injury to Martinez.
The Argentina international was battling Sarr down the right when his left knee appeared to buckle, leading him to immediately indicate that he needed to come off.
Martinez received lengthy treatment and looked devastated as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
Palace fans spent that break goading United, including a chant of “Amorim’s right, your team is s****”. Another song suggested Rashford’s impending exit was due to that very reason.
United were caught by a second as they sought to level, with Munoz sent free behind by Sarr and unselfishly squaring for Mateta to beat Onana.
Limbs in the away end were matched by exits from the Old Trafford faithful, who saw Hojlund flick wide as nine minutes of stoppage time ended scoreless.
