Reaction to Palace's historic home win v United as 21/22 ends

First-team

22 May 2022

Crystal Palace beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final game of 2021/22, with Wilfried Zaha scoring a determined goal to secure his side's first home win over United since 1991. We're bringing you all the reaction and everything from the lap of appreciation as it comes.

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Story of the game:

Patrick Vieira has handed Jesurun Rak-Sakyi his first Premier League start
Both teams take a little time to find their feet, with United enjoying the slightly brighter start up-front
Wilfried Zaha almost finds Odsonne Edouard one-on-one, but his well-found pass is overhit
Vicente Guaita makes a quick-thinking save to deny Edison Cavani after 15 minutes
Both teams look lively and create promising chances, with De Gea saving shots from Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp
GOAL! Palace take the lead through Zaha, who shows brilliant determination to hold the ball on the edge of the box and strike low past De Gea
Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United
Palace look the stronger of the two teams in the second-half, however both sides create chances
It's pretty even by the 72nd-minute, with United the first to make a change
With minutes left on the clock United cannot trouble Guaita significantly
Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United

19:00

Thanks for joining us this afternoon as Palace saw out the 21/22 season in style with victory over Manchester United.

You can check out all the best reaction and imagery from the day on the website and app.

'The future is bright'

18:31

Wilf Zaha has had his say on Palace's impressive season, saying that this Crystal Palace squad is the ‘most exciting ever’.

“You’ve just got to look at the team and the people on the bench,” he said. “I think it’s the most exciting Palace squad we’ve ever had. The likes of [Eberechi] Eze, Michael [Olise], JP [Mateta], there are numerous players. The future’s bright.”

Vieira addresses the fans

18:25

Patrick Vieira is handed the microphone to address the Palace fans.

“It was really important for us,” he says of today’s victory. “We wanted to finish the really good season with a win and I can’t tell you how proud I am of the players. I really enjoyed working with every single player.

“The message is really clear and really simple. It’s been a really good season. I think we have to recognise the really hard work from the staff, the technical, press office, medical staff, all working really well.

“Of course what has been important is I strongly believe there is a really strong identity at the club. And a really strong relationship between you guys and the players and this is important to maintain. We had success at home and you supported us game after game. I will keep it really short but you can be really proud of the players.

“The work they do the challenge themselves, to work hard and work well. You guys can be really proud of the players.

“I want to thank you very much for your support. You’ve been unbelievable and it was a great experience for me. I loved every single home game. So thank you for your support and we’ll see you all next season with a higher ambition.”

18:20

The players are out on the pitch ready for the end of season presentations.

But first, there is a word for departing CEO Phil Alexander, who leaves the club after 26 years.

“Twenty-six years…its been an incredible ride,” he tells the fans. “For the club now to be playing its 10th season in the Premier League is unbelievable.

“We have exciting talent coming through the Academy, Palace women are going from strength to strength and our foundation does some brilliant work in the community.

“This is a wonderful time to be a Palace fan.”

Chairman Steve Parish adds his personal thanks.

“This club has been in admin twice, and twice this man has taken us through administration,” he says. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without Phil, so I thank him for that.”

Record breakers

18:12

It's been some season for Crystal Palace, and the stats tell a similar story. Today's result means the Eagles finish 2021/22 with:

Palace's fewest ever Premier League goals conceded
The club's first-ever Premier League positive goal difference
The fewest ever Premier League defeats

18:06

Enjoy that one, Palace fans?

All the reaction is still to come but first, check out the best shots from today's game.

01 / 05

Confirmed table

17:57

With the Premier League over for another season Palace have been confirmed in 12th place.

They sit just one point behind Newcastle United with a goal difference of +4, the only side outside the top eight with a positive number.

Congratulations to Manchester City for winning the 2021/22 title.

Man of the Match: You tell us

As it happened

17:55

Read our report from this afternoon's action here.

Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United

The full-time whistle blows to end the season over for another year.

It's been one of change for Palace, and Patrick Vieira has capped it in style: with a first home win over United for 31 years.

Stay tuned for post-match reaction, the lap of honour and a breakdown of what this means in the table.

90: The game is paused while Zaha receives treatments for a clash of heads.

86: The attendance figures are in and it's another sell-out crowd with our biggest of the season: 25,434.

83: James McArthur takes to the field to the crowd's satisfaction. He replaces Schlupp.

80: United fans are on their phones, with some checking the Premier League scores: this game has major ramifications on their league position. There's also the small matter of Liverpool and Manchester City battling for the title.

The visitors are currently sixth, with Palace in 12th. The Brighton v West Ham game (2-1) is key: should the Hammers pull a goal back Palace will move up and United down.

78: Our second change: Eberechi Eze for Odsonne Edouard. The latter goes off to warm applause for a driven effort throughout the game.

United also make a sub: Alejandro Garnacho for Dalot.

75: Shola Shoretire replaces Fred.

74: McTominay heads into Guaita's arms from a corner.

Well in, Jes

66: Our first change: Cheikhou Kouyaté replaces Rak Sakyi. A great first Premier League start for the 19-year-old.

62: A busy minute. Edouard gets booked for a foul on Scott McTominay.

62: That'll be the No.46's last involvement, as Juan Mata replaces him.

61: Mejbri fires a shot at goal from the edge of the box but Guaita adeptly. tips it high.

59: Diogo Dalot goes into the book for an incidental but forceful foul on Gallagher. The Palace No.23 drags a shot wide from 20 yards shortly after.

Great spirit

56: Rak-Sakyi shows what he's made of defensively with a full-bodied challenge to prevent a United counter.

53: Mejbri gets very close to goal but Ward makes a crucial tackle to head the threat off.

50: Edouard makes a drive forward but runs into a crowd. As the ball rebounds Conor Gallagher shows a commendable amount of effort to regain possession.

Back underway

46: The two teams are back in action.

Half-time entertainment

While we're waiting for the second-half, help us out and kill a few minutes with our end of season survey. Complete it below and you'll be in with a chance of winning a 22/23 Season Ticket, to watch more of what we've seen today.

Looking good. The gaffer will like what he's seen so far

44: They're not making it easy for Atkinson, as Mejbri earns a yellow for excessively hassling Zaha.

42: Will Hughes goes into the book for a foul on Fred. No complaints from the Palace man.

On the subject of officiating, it's Martin Atkinson's final game in the middle today, bidding farewell after 27 years in the sport.

Acrobatic from Wardy

39: Joel Ward gets a crucial touch on an Elanga cross to steer it away from danger.

GOALLL!

37: Palace have taken the lead through a trademark Wilfried Zaha strike.

The Ivorian receives the ball on the edge of the box, shows strength and resilience to retain it and finally fires low past De Gea to hand his side the lead. That's now 15 goals this season, a personal record by some distance.

It's a full house bidding farewell to 21/22, our first full season with you back since 2018/19

28: Next to try their luck for the south Londoners is Jeffrey Schlupp, who strikes at the 'keeper after Edouard lays him off. A bright chance for Palace.

Looking lively

26: Both teams look up for it here. Fernandes misses a chance after Anthony Elanga squares it well, before De Gea blocks Zaha from inside the box.

20: We're looking assertive as a series of dead balls end up struck past the goal-frame.

El Mejor

15: Vicente Guaita shows impressive reflex skills to deny Cavani as the forward strikes a deflected shot from close range.

Close!

12: Wilfried Zaha threads a smart ball for Odsonne Edouard to face David de Gea one-v-one, but it's slightly overhit and ends up in the Spaniard's arms.

Visitors claim first opening

8: United roam forward as Fernandes and Edinson Cavani link-up in the box, but the ball falls to an offside Hannibal Mejbri with his back to goal.

7: United have eased themselves into the game, and are starting to enjoy more possession. Neither 'keeper has seen any action yet.

3: Palace are knocking the ball around well, with a front three of Wilfried Zaha, Odsonne Edouard and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi enjoying some possession in the final third.

And we're off!

1: Bruno Fernandes gets us underway in SE25.

Gearing up

15:45

01 / 04

Not long to go

15:30

There are just 30 minutes until kick-off...

Fill two of them with highlights from our last United clash at Selhurst.

Made in south London

15:25

That one's gone down well...

15:06

Rak-Sakyi made his Premier League debut v Chelsea, and earns his first professional start today

Teams are in

15:00

The teams are in with an hour until kick-off, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi starts for Palace.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Clyne, Ward, Andersen, Mitchell, Hughes, Schlupp, Gallagher, Rak-Sakyi, Edouard, Zaha.

Subs: Butland (GK), Milivojevic, Kouyaté, Ayew, Eze, Mateta, McArthur, Benteke, Kelly.

Man Utd: De Gea (GK), Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, Fred, McTominay, Hannibal, Elanga, Fernandes, Cavani.

Subs: Heaton (GK), Bailly, Jones, Mata, Varane, Shoretire, Savage, Fernandez, Garnacho.

Eze: "We want to put on a show"

14:53

Speaking with the media pre-match, Eberechi Eze said: "This is the aim, we want to finish as high as we can. A win today puts us in a good position and we have to see where that leaves us.

"We want to change that [Palace's home record v United] today, we want to put in a good performance. Especially the last game at home with the fans, we want to put on a show for them."

From the stands

14:42

Vieira's views

14:36

More from the gaffer's pre-match press conference, as he gives his views on the game:

“It’s good for us to play the last game at home against one of the best teams in this country in United. It’s what they represent in the Premier League. We want to give a really good performance – our fans deserve that. This is what we will try to do.

“It’s been a really challenging season for them but it’s never easy to play United. When you look at the quality they have in the squad, we will need a big performance to get something there."

Go behind the scenes

14:27

Our club photographer was on-hand for the final training session of 2021/22. You can see inside below.

01 / 06

The lads are here

14:20

The lads are preparing for today's finale as the fans start to arrive.

14:15

Speaking in his pre-United press conference, Vieira also said: “What we want is to improve every year. To improve the team we have to bring in the right players to allow ourselves to be more competitive.

“As a coach you are learning every game, every season. Obviously my first season in England has been a challenge, but I still learn a lot about the team, about the Premier League, about how challenging that can be.

“Myself and my staff will be even better next year.”

From the gaffer

14:10

Before the game gets underway Patrick Vieira has written a message to Palace fans in his Manchester United programme notes.

“I think the supporters at this football club recognise themselves in the team,” he says in it. “There is the same determination and passion on the pitch as in the stands. This makes me proud as a manager because it’s what this football club is about.”

You can read the full message here.

Make like Jes

14:05

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's got his matchday programme. Read yours by clicking below!

Get the ball rolling

14:00

As we build-up to today's 16:00 kick-off, find out everything you need about the season finale in our comprehensive preview here.

Covering everything from team news to tactics, bring yourself fully up to date for one last time in 21/22.

We're be covering everything from this season finale today, showing you all the pre-match build-up, team news, all the match action and everything from post-match, including the lap of appreciation.

Crystal Palace v Manchester United

Sunday, 22nd May
16:00 BST
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

First-team

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