Zlatan late strike secure a hard fought victory for United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck an 88th-minute winner as Manchester United stretched their unbeaten run to nine games with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.

The Swede clinically converted past Wayne Hennessey in the closing stages at Selhurst Park after fine work from Paul Pogba, who hit a controversial opener in first-half stoppage time.

On a night littered with contentious decisions, Palace were aggrieved Marcos Rojo was not shown a red card for a two-footed tackle on former United winger Wilfried Zaha in the first period.

But the hosts sought their own retribution after the break when James McArthur slotted a classy equaliser on 66 minutes.

However, it was Ibrahimovic who had the final word as United remained in the hunt for the top four positions by claiming back-to-back league wins for the first time since August.

Wayne Rooney was handed his first Premier League start since early November as Jose Mourinho made four changes to the United side which beat Tottenham.

Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Juan Mata also got the nod, while Alan Pardew recalled Mathieu Flamini, Yohan Cabaye and Chung-Yong Lee to the Crystal Palace starting line-up.

Mourinho has reiterated United have been playing well in spite of recent disappointing performances and their assured start at Selhurst vindicated their manager's assertion.

It was a start which began with a scare though, as Bailly collapsed off the ball clutching his left knee before gingerly returning to action.


United went on to take full control of the game but had to wait 37 minutes for a shot on target as Hennessey sprung to his left to deny a Rooney volley.

Then came the controversy as Rojo, less than two weeks after he avoided red for a robust lunge on Everton's Idrissa Gueye, replicated a poor challenge on Zaha and received only a yellow.

There was more cause for Palace to feel aggrieved as United took the lead before the break. The officials failed to spot Ibrahimovic use his arm to deflect a United free-kick into the path of Pogba, who converted from an offside position.

Half-time substitute Joe Ledley almost had the immediate impact for Palace, whistling a shot wide seconds after coming on. And the home side continued to pose a threat as McArthur called David de Gea into a sublime save on 62 minutes.

And, after gathering Damien Delaney's stunning back-heel, McArthur finally broke the Spaniard's resolve, slotting past him at his near post.

United almost restored their lead immediately, but Hennessey ensured Rooney's wait to surpass Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record continued with a fine save on 68 minutes.

Referee Pawson then chose not to penalise Ledley for blocking a Rojo header for handball, before Mata had a goal wrongfully denied for offside as frustration began to set in for United.

However, with the game destined for a stalemate, Pogba and Ibrahimovic took matters into their own hands, combining for the winner..

Pogba rolled Cabaye in midfield before clipping Ibrahimovic behind the Palace defence, where the Swede slotted past Hennessey from the most acute of angles to send the travelling band of United fans into raptures.