Manchester United earned their first away win of 2014 on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
The deadlock was broken on 62 minutes when Robin van Persie converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Patrice Evra.
United then sealed the points with 20 minutes left as Wayne Rooney lashed home a spectacular volley.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded at Selhurst Park.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League encounter as Crystal Palace play host to Manchester United at Selhurst Park. We're expecting the team news to come through any moment now.
UPDATE: We've already had one full-time result in the Premier League today as Chelsea earned a last-gasp 1-0 win at home to Everton. Meanwhile, there are currently five other fixtures being played, with quite a few goals knocking about. We'll bring you those results as soon as they happen.
PALACE: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Parr; Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Ince; Chamakh, Murray
PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Gabbidon, Dikgacoi, Bannan, Bolasie, Gayle, Jerome
Palace boss Tony Pulis makes two changes to his side following their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on February 8. The Eagles have had an extended break because their game with Everton last week was called off due to the bad weather. Jonathan Parr and Glenn Murray are both given the nod, while Kagisho Dikgacoi and Yannick Bolasie drop to the bench.
MAN UTD: De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Fellaini; Mata, Rooney, Januzaj; Van Persie
MAN UTD SUBS: Lindegaard, Valencia, Fletcher, Giggs, Kagawa, Young, Hernandez
Man Utd boss David Moyes has gone with three changes following the team's 0-0 draw at Arsenal last week. Rio Ferdinand and Adnan Januzaj are both recalled, while Marouane Fellaini comes back into the starting XI following a lengthy absence through injury.
While Fellaini's return is something of a talking point for the champions, all eyes this evening will be on Wayne Rooney after the striker signed a new contract with the club yesterday. The England international, who has committed himself to the Red Devils until 2019, is understood to be on around £300,000 per week.
You just get the feeling that Rooney's new deal will give Man Utd a bit of an extra spring in their step tonight. He is undoubtedly their talisman, and a happy Rooney is vital if this team wants to salvage anything from this season.
RECENT FORM:
PALACE: LWLWLW
MAN UTD: LLWLDD
Right, this afternoon's five other Premier League matches have all just finished so here come the results...
PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTS:
Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland
Cardiff City 0-4 Hull City
Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Fulham
West Ham United 3-1 Southampton
What today's results mean for Man Utd is that they can move up to sixth place with a victory this evening. A win for Palace would mean that Tony Pulis's side would end the day in 12th position.
HEAD TO HEAD: Man Utd haven't been beaten by Palace in their last 11 meetings in the Premier League. The Red Devils have won nine and drawn two in that time.
The last time that Palace beat Man Utd in the league was a 3-0 triumph back in 1991. John Salako and Ian Wright were among the goals on that day.
Man Utd are the favourites to win tonight's match, but they will need to be cautious against a Palace side that has improved greatly under Tony Pulis. The Eagles haven't been beaten at home in the league for four matches, a run that has been built on a solid defence.
This season's reverse fixture between Man Utd and Crystal Palace saw David Moyes's side earn a 2-0 victory back in September. Robin van Persie put the hosts ahead with a penalty on the strike of half time before Wayne Rooney sealed the points late on.
Just under 15 minutes to go until kickoff and there's a real buzz around Selhurst Park. The Palace fans know that their team has a great chance of upsetting the champions this evening.
Palace boss Tony Pulis recently speaking to the Croydon Guardian: "With the players Manchester United have, they can beat anyone in Europe on any given day. We have to be on it 110%, we have to make sure everyone is going into the game with the right attitude, and hope that the atmosphere on the day will take us up to the level where we can compete with them."
Man Utd manager David Moyes: "I'd never be disrespectful to any manager because I think Ian Holloway did a brilliant job of bringing them up and getting them going the way they are. They have a great crowd behind them.
"However, I think Tony Pulis has showed all his experience. A lot of people were writing Tony off during his time at Stoke City but he hasn't half gone in there and made a few people eat their words. Results are what matter and you have to think about where Crystal Palace were and where they are now. What matters to Tony is results and he's very good at getting them."
Five minutes until this match gets underway and the players are starting to filter out of the changing rooms and into the tunnel.
KICKOFF! The players are out, the pre-match niceties have been done, and it will be Man Utd to kick us off. Here we go!
It's been a decent start from Palace so far, winning an early corner that eventually comes to nothing. The home fans are certainly in fine voice with the champions in town.
Now it's the visitors who are starting to show a bit of promise up front, although that final ball hasn't been there for them during these early stages. They're also enjoying a lot more of the ball in and around midfield, probing away at the Palace defence.
Man Utd are having to be patient at the moment because Palace are defending in numbers. As you would expect, Tony Pulis has his side looking organised and committed. However, it's all a bit ominous as the champions start taking control of things.
One feature of Man Utd's play so far has been Fellaini making plenty of runs into the Palace penalty area. The big Belgian has clearly been told to get forward and cause the hosts problems with his physicality. Meanwhile, it's Carrick who is sitting deep.
For all of the away side's dominance, their still yet to really trouble the Palace goal. Still, David Moyes is likely to be happy with what he's seen so far. The champions are looking unruffled, despite Palace working hard to win back possession.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Man Utd have the ball in the net but it won't count as Januzaj is penalised for handball. Despite the youngster's venomous finish into the bottom corner it's the correct decision from referee Michael Oliver.
It's still the visitors who are doing all of the pressing, limiting Palace to the odd counter-attack. However, the visitors are having a bit of difficulty in the final third.
Man Utd aren't getting too frustrated at the moment, but they'll want to make their dominance count. There's not a great deal going on at the moment though. Palace are happy to soak up the pressure as the away side huffs and puffs.
OFF THE LINE! A cross from Rooney nearly finds the top corner, but there is a Palace shirt in the way to head his effort off the line. That's the closest we've come to an opening goal so far, and it would have been a deserved one for Man Utd.
SAVE! Action at the other end now as De Gea keeps the scores level! Parr's header took a wicked deflection off Smalling, but the Man Utd goalkeeper was their to turn the ball away from creeping in the bottom corner.
We've reach the 30-minute mark and the game has come alive slightly following those chances for both teams. However, Man Utd continue to ask all the questions of Palace.
CHANCE! Some slack defending from Man Utd almost sees Palace break the deadlock through Chamakh. Ince's cross floated all the way through to the forward, but his tame header is easily saved by De Gea. The hosts are starting to up the tempo a bit here as we move towards the final 10 minutes of the half.
A moment of panic for Man Utd there as Ferdinand allows to let a long ball go past him, but De Gea is quick off his line with Ince chasing down.
Five minutes of normal time left to play in this first half and it's difficult to see where the opening goal is going to come from. Man Utd have been by far the better team, but they've lacked that clinical edge in the final third. Surprising really considering that they have Rooney, Van Persie, Mata and Januzaj all in attack.
Rooney does well to create some space on the edge of the Palace box before shooting straight at Speroni. It's been that kind of half for the visitors.
MISS! Oh dear, Fellaini. The Belgian really should have put the away side 1-0 up there. He linked well with Van Persie and Mata, but his left-footed shot from around the centre of the area was well off target. Needless to say he looks very disappointed in himself.
One minute of added time at the end of this first half...
HALF TIME: PALACE 0-0 MAN UTD
Michael Oliver blows the half-time whistle to bring an end to a goalless opening 45 minutes between these teams. Man Utd have dominated so far, but a lack of finishing means that the scores are still level. There's hope for Palace yet.
It's likely that David Moyes will be telling his players to do more of the same in the second half, though he should be concerned with their struggles in the final third.
With the second half soon to get underway, what of Palace? The Eagles have shown plenty of commitment so far and have looked happy to soak up all of that Man Utd pressure. Can they step it up after the break and start taking the game to their opponents?
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out for the second half and it will be Palace to kick us off. No changes at the break.
It's been a lively start to the second half from Palace as they win FOUR corners in quick succession, but they're unable to make any of them count. Decent defending from Man Utd there.
CHANCE! Palace continue to build on their early momentum with Puncheon having a crack at goal from the edge of the penalty area. However, the winger's weak shot is easily saved by De Gea.
Some hesitation in the Palace defence allows Januzaj to shoot towards goal, but his effort is blocked before Van Persie is penalised. Much more of a competitive feel to this second half.
It's very much attack and counter-attack at the moment with a fairly frantic pace to the game. Palace are yet to take their foot off the gas as they try to pin Man Utd back. Still, we await out first goal.
YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the match goes the way of Nemanja Vidic for pulling down Glenn Murray. No complaints from the Man Utd captain. The resulting free kick sees Murray hit an eye-catching volley towards goal that De Gea saves.
PENALTY TO MAN UTD!
GOAL! PALACE 0-1 MAN UTD (VAN PERSIE, PENALTY)
Scenes of jubilation among the Man Utd players as they take the lead through Robin van Persie's penalty! The kick was initially given after Marouane Chamakh had hacked down Patrice Evra inside the box, and there was the Dutchman to lash the penalty home.
Man Utd are suddenly looking very comfortable, which could be ominous for Palace. That goal has calmed the visitors down no end, allowing them to pass the ball around with a bit more authority. Do the hosts have an equaliser in them?
CHANCE! Almost a second goal for Mna Utd as Mata feed Fellaini on the edge of the box, but the Belgian's low drive is well saved by Speroni. An inch or two either side of the goalkeeper and that would heva probably gone in.
SUBSTITUTION: Palace make their first change of the evening as Glenn Murray is replaced by Cameron Jerome.
GOAL! PALACE 0-2 MAN UTD (ROONEY)
What an incredible goal from Wayne Rooney to give Man Utd a commanding 2-0 lead! Evra's cross from the left found it's way to the striker inside the box, and he had no trouble lashing a powerful half-volley into the far corner with Speroni well and truly beaten.
OFF THE BAR! A ruthless counter-attack from the visitors nearly brings them a third goal. Van Persie led the charge all on his own, but he was denied by the crossbar from a tight angle.
Credit to Palace, they haven't let their heads drop just yet. A goal in the next few minutes would set up a barnstorming finale here at Selhurst Park. They're certainly going for it, sending plenty of bodies forward.
SUBSTITUTION: Another swap for Palace here as Marouane Chamakh makes way for Yannick Bolasie. Just over 15 minutes left to play.
SAVE! That's a good stop from De Gea to deny Bolasie. The substitute was able to get a shot away from about 20 yards that De Gea saw late through a number of bodies. Palace are enjoying plenty of the ball at the moment.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Two changes for Man Utd here as Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs are introduced in place of Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj.
Into the final 10 minutes at Selhurst Park and it looks as if Man Utd will be claiming the three points. The Red Devils started the day on a winless run of three matches, but you would imagine that will be coming to an end soon. Mind you, Palace are still having a go...
SUBSTITUTION: A final change for Palace sees Dwight Gayle come on for Tom Ince.
SUBSTITUTION: Man Utd's last changes has Darren Fletcher take to the pitch in place of Marouane Fellaini.
YELLOW CARD: Ryan Giggs gets his name in the book after chopping down Joel Ward. Four minutes of added time to be played.
FULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-2 MAN UTD
The full-time whistle goes and it's Man Utd who earn their first away victory of 2014 thanks to goals from Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. Palace did their best to make it a decent contest, but the Red Devils are the deserved winners.
That's all from me for now but you can follow all of the reaction from tonight's match right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
