United Review | Crystal Palace at home

United 2 - 1 Crystal Palace 

Sesko proved decisive once again as we showed real character to come from behind and beat Palace 2-1.

Author | Lee Francis

It was a sluggish opening from United and Palace made the most of it. Maxence Lacroix put the visitors ahead and they deservedly led at half-time. The game swung on Lacroix’s dismissal for a foul on Matheus Cunha, a moment that completely shifted the momentum.

After a lengthy VAR check, Bruno Fernandes kept his nerve to roll home the penalty awarded by referee Chris Kavanagh. From there, United turned the screw and the captain delivered a pinpoint cross for Benjamin Sesko to thunder a header past the excellent Dean Henderson.

Henderson’s string of saves kept Palace in the contest until the end, but United held firm to see out the win. The three points lift the Reds up to third in the Premier League table and underline a growing resilience that fans will be delighted to see.

Sesko's place in the starting line-up was justified

The in-form Slovenian continues to justify the growing excitement around him. Boasting the best goals-per-90 minutes ratio in the Premier League this calendar year, Benjamin Sesko had largely been limited to appearances from the bench under Michael Carrick.

That restraint already looked hard to justify after his late, decisive goals against West Ham United and Everton in the previous two matches. Given his chance from the start on Sunday, Sesko made it count.

After seeing two headers kept out, the 6ft 5in forward showed real persistence. He attacked the ball with conviction, rising highest to thunder home a superb cross from Bruno Fernandes and deliver a moment that fully repaid his manager’s faith.