Palace embark on only their second ever FA Cup Final this weekend against the very same opponent.
It will be a remarkable twist to a season that started so well but ended in frustration as the Eagles spiralled down the Premier League table only securing safety with a game to go.
Regardless, the run to the final has been far from easy and finding a way to knock out Premier League teams along the way has been particularly impressive.
Boss Alan Pardew, a member of the 1990 cup final team, has been working hard with the squad all week with no new injury concerns to report. There is perhaps a relief among the camp now that the league campaign is over and they can focus fully on a shot at winning the historic cup competition.
Opponents United have finished the season in good form by securing fifth spot and a place in the Europa League for next season. Their formidable line-up will be a tough proposition even though their season has not been what the Old Trafford faithful expected from their side.
Dutchman Louis van Gaal has taken a lot of criticism this season and while United have missed out on Champions League football, there will be some more content than others with the progress should they win the cup.
Everything points to a United win but, as we know, this season has been extraordinary. With Leicester City winning the Premier League title, maybe it is the turn of Palace to make the headlines.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Joe Ledley (broken leg), Brede Hangeland (knock), Marouane Chamakh (groin) and Kwesi Appiah (knee) all miss the cup final. Injury concerns over Connor Wickham (ankle), Yohan Cabaye (chest) and Wilfried Zaha (hamstring) should clear allowing all three to be available.
Manchester United – Luke Shaw (broken leg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee), Will Keane (groin) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (knock) all miss out. Marcus Rojo (knock), Adnan Januzaj (hamstring), Morgan Schneiderlin (illness) and Matteo Darmian (ankle) are all questionable. Marouane Fellaini returns from suspension.
Action Replay
The last time the two teams faced each other in a cup competition was at Old Trafford where a certain midfielder scored a goal that was described by Gary Neville as being the best scored by an opposition team. It was the League Cup in November 2011 and Palace had drawn United in the quarter final away from home. Darren Ambrose scored THAT goal from thirty-five yards to give the Eagles the lead. The hosts were level minutes later but Palace won the game courtesy of an extra time goal from Glenn Murray. It was Palace’s first victory at Old Trafford since 1989. Only one player that started that game will be in line to start the FA Cup Final. That man is a certain Wilfried Zaha.
Form Guide
Last six games between the two sides;
- 20th April 2016: Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
- 31st October 2015: Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United
- 9th May 2015: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
- 8th November 2014: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal palace
- 22nd February 2014: Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United
- 14th September 2013: Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
In their last six games United have won four games and drawn one. The only loss came at the hands of West Ham United on an emotional evening at Upton Park. Meanwhile, Palace have won two and drawn one to limp to the end of the season with one of those wins coming at Wembley in the semi final against Watford.
Form Players (courtesy of Who Scored)
- Yohan Cabaye (7.23)
- Anthony Martial (7.23)
- Chris Smalling (7.17)
- Yannick Bolasie (7.14)
- Daley Blind (7.14)
- Wayne Rooney (7.06)
- Scott Dann (7.05)
Route To The Final
Crystal Palace
- Southampton (a) 2-1
- Stoke City (h) 1-0
- Tottenham Hotspur (a) 1-0
- Reading (a) 2-0
- Watford (n) 2-1
Manchester United
- Sheffield United (h) 1-0
- Derby County (a) 3-1
- Shrewsbury Town (a) 3-0
- West Ham United (h) 1-1 (replay 2-1)
- Everton (n) 2-1
Previous FA Cup Meetings (courtesy of Holmesdale.net)
Palace have only met United four times in the competition previously with the Eagles yet to win a game. The first was in the 1990 final which went to a replay. The previous meeting was at the semi-final stage in 1995 which ended in a 2-2 draw but again, United won the replay.
The two sides have met six times in the League Cup with Palace winning just the one. The first tie was a 4-2 win for United in 1970 followed by a 2-0 aggregate win in the two legged affair back in 1985. The clubs were drawn against each other once again in 1987 which United won 2-1 and again in 2004 which they won 2-0. Finally, Palace got their revenge in the 2011 quarter final.
The Managers
‘United keep the ball really well. We are going to have to be patient at times. We are going to be the side that needs to fight that bit harder to win, there is no doubt about that. We have got areas of the pitch where I think we are slightly superior and we have got to make those areas count.’ – Alan Pardew
‘Always your starting point is to impress and perform well. That depends on a lot of factors, including your opponent. Then you get a fantastic match. Our starting point is to win well and score beautiful goals. But if we win 1-0 that is also enough. Winning is the most important thing in a final, otherwise you have nothing.’ – Louis van Gaal
One To Watch
Anthony Martial
The French striker arrived at Old Trafford for a hefty £36 million fee but has been a shining light this season for United. The fee paid to Monaco could rise to £58 million and is the highest paid for a teenager. The twenty year old from Massy, France began his career in the youth set up at CO Les Ullis before moving to Lyon in 2009. He made his full debut for the club in 2012 but only managed three appearances before signing for Monaco in 2013. After making a little under fifty appearances and scoring eleven goals, United swooped to sign the impressive youngster who has represented his country at every youth level and has now made eight full international appearances. In his thirty-one Premier League appearances for the Red Devils he has scored eleven goals.
Predictions
Many pundits have predicted a United win but we all know football is rarely that straightforward. The underdog tag suits Palace down to the ground and the FA Cup has provided plenty of surprises in its illustrious past. Palace have a chance but have to be wary of the wealth of talent in the United ranks. It is hard to read much into the last meeting between the two which United ran out winners as Palace rested a number of players ahead of the semi-final meeting with Watford. It is a one off game with everything to play for.
- TEB prediction – Palace win
- Ben Eltham prediction (see link above) – United win
- Who Scored prediction – United win
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 4/1
- Draw – 5/2
- Away – 3/4
- Both teams to score – 11/10
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