MANCHESTER - Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney scored to give Manchester United skipper David Moyes his first victory at Old Trafford over 10-man Crystal Palace in Premier League action on Saturday.
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney wins a header during the first half of Saturtday's match against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. (AFP Photo)
Palace gave a good account of themselves against an uninspired United side for most of the first half, before the hosts benefited from a refereeing decision that went their way.
Kagisho Dikgacoi was red-carded in the 44th minute after United's Ashley Young went down - outside the penalty area and displaying some fine acting ability in the view of many neutrals. Young had been cautioned for diving earlier.
Van Persie subsequently made no mistake from the spot to give United a 1-0 lead.
Midfielder Marouane Fellaini, newly signed from Moyes's alma mater Everton, came on after 62 minutes and came close to bagging himself a spectacular debut goal. The ball looped his way outside the Palace box, where he chested it down, let it bounce and sent a rocket that keeper Julian Speroni just managed to scramble clear.
Rooney made it 2-0 after 81 minutes with a beautiful free-kick a few yards outside the penalty area, well left of centre, whipping the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
With the Crystal Palace fixture sandwiched between a defeat at Anfield and a trip to Manchester City, Moyes was painfully aware that he could not afford to drop points against a promoted side.
United entered the match just one point ahead of Palace, who earned their first win of the season with a 3-1 triumph over Sunderland at Selhurst Park, after the first three games, with their only success coming on the opening day against Swansea City.