sport news Erik ten Hag's team are falling apart around him and his grip on the Man United ... trends now
More than half a century has passed but Manchester United supporters of a certain vintage will remember an infamous five-goal thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park that proved to be Frank O’Farrell’s last match as manager.
They were finding it impossible to move on from the Sir Matt Busby era and little seemed about to change under O’Farrell so they sacked him and installed Tommy Docherty. Last night, back in Selhurst, Erik ten Hag watched his depleted team torn apart in similar fashion as a similar mood of inevitably settled over his tenure.
Ten Hag stood on the touchline, no club branding on his clothing, rumours of interest from Bayern Munich in the air as Oliver Glasner’s re-energised Palace romped to a 4-0 victory and the home crowd taunted him about getting sacked in the morning.
Michael Olise led the destruction with two goals. Jean-Phillippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell were also on target. Casemiro had two goals ruled out but this could quite easily have been more embarrassing for United.
They have won just two of their last 10 in the Premier League, and finish with home fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle, and an FA Cup final at Wembley.
Michael Olise (right) scored twice as Crystal Palace thrashed Man United on Monday night
Olise produced two brilliant strikes to ramp up the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag
The united players looked shell-shocked as they suffered a humiliating defeat in London
It was another miserable outing for Ten Hag's men as Palace ran riot at Selhurst Park
Ten Hag’s team falling apart around him and his grip on the job is fading.
Ten Hag was without his captain Bruno Fernandes, who has an ankle problem. It was, according to various statistical wizards, the first time Fernandes had missed a senior game through injury in his entire career. Although he has missed a couple through illness, including one for United.
Harry Maguire, who might have led the team out in his absence is also injured. The full extent of the casualty list was perhaps best illustrated by the two goalkeepers and four teenagers named among nine substitutes.
Casemiro took the armband and partnered Jonny Evans in the centre of defence. If it gave the back-four a patched-up look at kick-off it looked even worse when Olise sliced the experienced pair open to score the opening goal inside 13 minutes.
He collected the ball in midfield, eased away from Christian Eriksen on the turn, jinked past a reckless Casemiro tackle and advanced towards the United goal. All the other white shirts in the vicinity went into retreat.
Olise opened the scoring with a cool finish after skipping past Casemiro in midfield
The United players had no answer for the Eagles in front of a delighted
