This defeat completed a miserable two trips to Manchester as once again the Palace side were unable to break their duck in front of goal, while the goals conceded once again meant bad reading for Palace fans.
Damien Delaney was in the side due to an injury sustained in training 24 hours before the game to Scott Dann, but stressed after the match that the dressing room is missing players through injury however results need to start turning around after the international break.
“Nine goals conceded in two weeks is not good enough but we need to be conscious that we still have 30 games left and it will hopefully not be too long before we players returning from injury,” he said. “Once we get some of the lads back we can start doing what we know we are capable of because our first seven games have just not been good enough.
“There were periods of today’s game where we have played quite well and I can remember coming here in the past and the team not playing so well and only losing by a couple of goals. There is so much quality in their side that sooner or later they are going to start opening you up and create chances, and unfortunately in this game they had four which they were able to take.“
The defender made his first Premier League appearance of the season at Old Trafford and knows the size of the task ahead, but believes it is one that the squad are certainly capable of coming through.
“It is good to be back from a personal point of view but results wise it’s about sticking together, rolling our sleeves up and realising the size of the task we have ahead of us,” he added.
“The run of games we have had is not ideal but we have had tougher mountains to climb at this football club in the past. First and foremost we must get back on the training ground and get ourselves prepared for the challenge ahead.”