For the first time this year, Erik ten Hag is orchestrating back-to-back victories, which is the U-turn Manchester United needs. However, the manager still has work to do as four wins are equal to as many losses.
Since losing to Swansea in September 2013, the League Cup champions had not exited in the third round. In other words, following Saturday's victory at Burnley, a loss to this drastically altered Crystal Palace would have reignited the barrage of criticism thrown at Ten Hag before he faced the same opposition here on Saturday in the league match.
This didn't happen. Instead, United played with a confidence that will please the manager as much as André Onana's awareness when he was eventually required to do what he is paid for: make a save. The Cameroonian sharply used a leg to repel Jean-Philippe Mateta's attempt.
In the 69th minute, Palace's first shot on goal highlighted how commanding their opponent was.
Ten Hag's desire to play with possession was evident from the start as United spread out in Palace's half and tapped the ball about, pushing their opponents to pursue.
Ten Hag set up his team in a conventional 4-2-3-1 alignment that changed to a 4-1-4-1 in attack, with Mount taking the extra-advanced operator position. Even though the manager made seven changes from the winning lineup against Burnley, Sofyan Amrabat, Alejandro Garnacho, Mount, and Onana were retained in the starting lineup. The Palace squad under Roy Hodgson's management received eight new names. Two of the largest, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi, were on the bench, which appeared to be the manager's equivalent of waving the white flag in terms of the competition's advancement.
Dean Henderson, a United alumni, had to be replaced by Sam Johnstone after 18 minutes because it looked the custodian injured himself when attempting a long kick downfield. When Mount sent the ball to Facundo Pellistri on the right, the winger played it inside for Diogo Dalot, whose daring run allowed him to swing a cross over the turf where Garnacho slid in and fired a shot to Johnstone's left, it was easy for United to score.
In less than a minute, as United sought to end their match with Palace as soon as possible, the newly appointed custodian was stopping a furious Dalot shot. Next, Pellistri fired at close range after being tricked by Garnacho, and only a last-ditch effort by Chris Richards—via a hook of a leg—was able to stop him.
The outcome was a corner, which increased United's lead by two. Mount swung it in from the right, and Casemiro got to his feet and started home as is his wont. By the end of the first half, United was occasionally using a back-three, with Amrabat filling in for Casemiro, who had switched positions to become the middle defender. This, in miniature, demonstrated their assurance and mastery.
The Swede started the second half as an inverted center-back before Ten Hag substituted Victor Lindelöf for Mount. He made one aggressive run that carried him deep into Palace territory. He then exchanged passes with Martial, but the French forward's return pass was unsuccessful.
When it was possible, Amrabat was positioned beside Casemiro in a midfield fulcrum that exuded composure and skill. This was a preview of how Ten Hag will use Amrabat in the future. Each of these were present in United's third goal, which also featured the ex-Real Madrid player. Casemiro spiralled a great schemer's lob to the back post from the inside-right slot, where the predatory Martial swung the ball past Johnstone with a flick of his left boot.
Tie, and Ten Hag's team, who had earned the right to parade around their illustrious house as they now did, began to defend the cup.
Ten Hag gave the 20-year-old actor who had been outstanding in a leading role a brilliant smile as soon as Hannibal Mejbri was removed off the stage. When Rasmus Hjlund replaced Martial, he was met with the same reaction: it was this kind of night for United.
