Palace stand firm to thwart United’s title hopes

CRYSTAL PALACE put a dent in Manchester United’s fast-fading title hopes with a defensive performance that even Alex Ferguson had to admire.

Iain Dowie’s side were reduced to 10 men midway through the second-half when Vassilis Lakis was handed his second yellow card by referee Mark Clattenburg but even that numerical deficit failed to unhinge Palace’s remarkable desire to keep a clean sheet against United.

When United threw on Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in a last-ditch effort to engineer a crucial match-winner, the Palace rearguard held firm under intense pressure in the final 10 minutes.