Juan Mata scored from the penalty spot to give Manchester United a 1-0 half-time lead over Crystal Palace in their Premier League clash at Selhurst Park this evening.
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The visitors came close to taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Daley Blind tried his luck with a low strike from distance, but Julian Speroni did just enough to turn it onto the post.
United were ahead inside the opening 20 minutes, though, as Scott Dann blocked an Ashley Young cross with his arm to gift Louis van Gaal's side a penalty which Mata slotted just inside the left post to break the deadlock.
Mile Jedinak had the first real chance of the match for the home side as the Australia international got the better of Blind in the box to try to head in from a corner, but his finish went just high of the crossbar.
Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie both tried to set up further opportunities for Palace to get back on level terms, but both saw their deliveries into the box cleared by Marouane Fellaini.
There was a blow for the visitors before the break as Luke Shaw was forced off with a head injury following a midair collision with Bolasie, while Wayne Rooney was also limping in the final minutes before the interval.
Sian Cowper
