Five Talking Points from Manchester United's crucial 2-0 away win over Crystal Palace

With the top three all winning already earlier in the day, United had to win, if they had to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for next year's Champions League, alive. They managed to do just that, thanks to two second half goals from a Robin van Perise penalty and wonderful volley by Wayne Rooney. Let us now take a look at the five major talking points of the game.

#1 Rooney rewards Moyes faith

Earlier this week, Wayne Rooney was rewarded with a bumper new contract that will keep him at the club till 2019. The Englishman rewarded the faith shown by his manager with a sumptuous volley in the second half to make it 2-0 and seal all three points for United. The goal was his 10th of the season, which meant that, for the 10th straight season he has scored 10 goals or more in the League. It also moved just a couple of goals shy of Jack Rowley who is third on the list of all-time leading scorers for United. With Rooney scoring for the first time in five games and linking up well with Mata, things are starting to look for Moyes.

#2 De Gea proves his worth in gold

For much of this season, De Gea has been a silent spectator in the background. Whilst center backs have come and gone, the Spaniard has remained the only constant at the back. Although he has been pretty good thus far, due to the lack of support in front of him, he hasn’t been able to keep as many clean sheets as he would have liked. Against Palace, he showed just why he is regarded as one of the finest keepers in Europe. Although he didn’t have too much to do for most of the game, when he was called upon, he played his part to perfection. The young Spaniard displayed supreme levels of concentration and walked away with only his fourth away clean sheet of the campaign. With a solid back four in front of him, he might just be able to build on this impressive performance.

#3 One final hurray for trio at the back?

When the starting lineup was announced, there were a couple of interesting selections by Moyes. None more so than the fact that Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the center of defense for only the seventh time this season. And whilst there is still some speculation as to whether the pair will be there next season, for now at least their experience proved vital. The duo mopped up everything in the air and didn’t give up on too many loose balls. That coupled with Evra’s forays into the attacking third meant that United’s ageing trio were all in full flow for the first time in a very long time. Whether this was their final swansong or not, only time will tell. For all their flaws, the trio are the club’s most experienced defenders and they certainly got the job done at Selhurst Park.

#4 Moyes looks to build on Uniteds DNA

One of the things that has remained constant throughout the last two decades or so has been United’s ability to work the flanks to great effect. From the days of Lee Sharpe and Andrei Kanchelskis to, more recently, Cristiano Ronaldo and Valencia, United have always had wingers who know how to get the ball in the box. And although the crosses so far this season haven’t been ones cut from the same cloth as those in the Ferguson era, the truth is that Moyes is keen on building on that. Against Palace, both of United’s goals came from crosses from the left flank, with Evra proving to be a menace with his runs from deep. And whilst the whole world is going small and narrow, Moyes is intent on building from United’s rich heritage of wing play.

#5 Crystal Palace unable to hold on till the end

For much of the game the Eagles did what they set out to do. They frustrated Manchester United, forced them wide and didn’t give an inch. Ever since Tony Pulis took over, they have transformed into a completely different side. Although they still struggle for goals, at the back, they have no problems whatsoever. They crowd the middle, make it narrow, force the opposition wide and defend crosses with great élan. Unfortunately for Pulis, one mistake cost them dear. Chamakh’s trip on Evra earned United a penalty. Once Robin van Persie slotted that away, the game became more stretched. And once Rooney scored, it was all but over for the Eagles. But, that should take nothing away from yet another faultless defensive performance from Pulis’ side, who on another day, might have nicked a goal and have come away with a famous three points over the Red Devils.