Jose Mourinho: Manchester United's 'disgraceful, childish' defending was the turning point in Crystal Palace win

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Tom Doyle5 March 2018

Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United's "disgraceful, childish" defending served as the catalyst to mount a 3-2 comeback win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Andors Townsend had put Palace ahead in the 11th minute, and were two goals ahead three minutes after half-time through Patrick van Aanholt.

From a quickly-taken free-kick, Schlupp sent Van Aanholt through on goal as the United defence was caught ball-watching and, despite suspicions of offside, his cool finish beat David De Gea.

​Mourinho had at half-time introduced Marcus Rashford for Scott McTominay and adopted a more attacking shape, and after Palace went 2-0 up it began to show.

Chris Smalling had already gone close when, in the 55th minute, he gave them the lift they needed with United's first goal. Antonio Valencia picked him out with a fine cross from the edge of the area and, under minimal pressure, he headed the ball back across Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and into the back of the net.

In Pictures | Crystal Palace vs Manchester United | 05/03/2018

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Nemanja Matic then saw an effort cleared off the line by Christian Benteke before, in the 76th minute, his fellow Belgian Lukaku found the vital equalising goal. After Alexis Sanchez struck the crossbar the striker collected the rebound and remained patient before picking his spot and calmly finishing low beyond Hennessey.

De Gea was then needed to produce an outstanding save from a header from Benteke when for a period Palace looked the likeliest winners, and before Matic scored his first goal for the club to complete the visitors' fightback.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Mourinho said: "That disgraceful, childish second goal changed everything. But the players kept an amazing attitude.

"Juan Mata was finding spaces inside, Marcus Rashford was open on the left and brought their right-back wide to give us more space in the middle.

"You always need that little bit of luck to win a match in the last few minutes. Sometimes the winner is the one who deserves the congratulations but I think Roy Hodgson did everything right.

"I cannot tell you half of the things I told my team at half-time because there would be lots of bleeping on television. But what I can say was all about the tactical positioning.

"To come back from 2-0 down away from home against a team that is desperate for points, it gives us a great feeling."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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