Benjamin Sesko proved decisive once more as Manchester United came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over 10-man Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, after Maxence Lacroix was sent off.
Lacroix had earlier given Palace a dream start, powering past Leny Yoro to head home from Brennan Johnson’s corner just four minutes in. United laboured in the first half, coming closest through Casemiro, whose header drifted narrowly wide.
The contest turned shortly after the break. Lacroix was caught too tight to Matheus Cunha and pulled him down inside the box. A penalty was awarded, and following a VAR review, the Palace defender was dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Bruno Fernandes calmly converted from the spot in the 57th minute before turning provider eight minutes later. His deep cross from the right was emphatically headed into the bottom corner by Sesko, who had also struck the winner against Everton earlier in the week.
United dominated the closing stages, with Casemiro and Amad Diallo forcing saves from Dean Henderson, but a third goal proved unnecessary.
Interim boss Michael Carrick remains unbeaten across his two spells in charge, and the win lifts United to third in the Premier League table, above Aston Villa on goal difference.
Data Debrief: Lacroix’s highs and lows, Sesko’s surge
Lacroix’s afternoon swung dramatically. After scoring, he became only the second visiting player to both score and be sent off in a Premier League match at Old Trafford, following Michael Owen for Liverpool in April 1998. He is also just the fourth Palace player to score and be dismissed in a league match for the club — the first since Christian Benteke against West Ham United in December 2020.
His red card sparked a relentless United response. Carrick’s side ended with 20 shots and 2.05 expected goals, compared to Palace’s eight attempts and 0.38 xG.
Sesko’s form continues to impress. Only Igor Thiago of Brentford (seven) has scored more Premier League goals in 2026 than the Slovenian’s six, a sharp turnaround after managing just two in his first 15 appearances of the campaign.
United have now avoided defeat in all five league games in which they have fallen behind in 2026 (two wins, three draws) — their longest such unbeaten streak since winning five in a row from November 2020 to January 2021.
