While the inhabitants of the real world continue to debate whether any footballer is worth £300,000 a week, Wayne Rooney showed how much he means to Manchester United with a classy goal that sealed the team’s first away win of 2014.
Many will wonder what a player needs to do to justify the wages that could, in the course of a year, buy him more than 200 terraced houses in Croxteth where he grew up. But, as he showed in this game, whatever his financial worth, Rooney is a player of outstanding quality that any team would want. That is why Jose Mourinho was so keen to sign him.
But United have him for another five years — and what a relief that is for a club who have struggled in unaccustomed fashion this season.
Game over: Wayne Rooney volleyed home to ensure Manchester United took all three points
Beaten: Julian Speroni can only watch the ball hit the back of the net as Rooney notches a second for United
MATCH FACTS
Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1): Speroni 6; Ward 6, Dann 6.5, Delaney 6.5, Parr 6; Ince 7 (Gayle 85), Jedinak 6.5, Ledley 6, Puncheon 6; Chamakh 5.5 (Bolasie 74, 6); Murray 6.5 (Jerome 66, 6).
Subs not used: Hennessey, Dikgacoi, Gabbidon, Bannan.
Manager Tony Pulis 6
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Smalling7, Vidic 7, Ferdinand 7, Evra 7.5; Fellaini 6.5, Carrick 6.5 (Fletcher 88); Mata 8, Rooney 8.5, Januzaj 7 (Giggs, 80); Van Persie 6 (Valencia 80).
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Young,, Kagawa.
Booked: Vidic, Giggs.
Manager: David Moyes 7.5
Attendance: 24,571
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland) 7
Ratings by SIMON JONES at Selhurst Park
Manager David Moyes intends to build his future team around his former Everton teenage prodigy, and the signs are promising.
Moyes had accused Rooney of ‘going soft’, of not being the player he was. In this match he had an undoubted influence, helping to steer United to victory after battling Palace threatened for nearly an hour to pull off their first win over the Manchester club for 23 years.
‘I’ve never had any worries about Wayne,’ said Moyes. ‘His was one of some really good performances. He scored a very good goal and some of his passing was great.’
For much of the game Rooney dropped deep to launch attacks and ensure he was heavily involved.
He persistently linked up with Juan Mata as the pair prodded and probed to try to open the Palace rearguard, often consisting of two lines of four camped across the edge of their penalty area.
He played one stunning, defence-splitting pass to put Robin van Persie through in the first half, only to be frustrated by the narrowest of offside decisions. He curled a 25-yard free-kick just wide and thumped a 30-yard drive into the body of keeper Julian Speroni.
Relief: Rooney celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the second goal at Crystal Palace
Target: Coins were thrown at Rooney as he prepared to take a corner at Selhurst Park
Pelted: Rooney picks up a coin that was thrown at him by the fans as United beat Crystal Palace
But when his moment came, Rooney showed what all the fuss is about. What all the money is about. Patrice Evra had galloped down the left to pull back a centre towards the edge of the area. And there was the man of the moment, hitting an instant shot without breaking stride that flew into the net past the keeper’s left hand.
Rooney said: ‘The ball sat up nicely, I made decent contact and it was nice to see it fly in. The deal has been more or less done for a month. I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible and now I can move on.
‘I have tried to do well for the team and tried to help us, and that wouldn’t change whether I’d signed a new deal or not. I always give 110 per cent and let my football do the talking.
‘I am happy and settled and am committed to helping the club become successful. I’ve been at the club for 10 years and it’s important we stick together and look to progress.’
Tony Pulis could only wish he had a player of Rooney’s class. ‘It was a great goal,’ said the Palace manager.
‘He’s a top player, there’s no question of that. It’s where he plays and what’s his best position. He can play in midfield and get forward and score goals. Yes, he’s a top player.’
United were grateful for Rooney’s strike as it allowed them to relax and play with more confidence. They had struggled to open Palace’s dogged defence, which, for all United’s possession, had allowed them few openings.
When Mata and Van Persie, at last, combined to create a clear opening for Marouane Fellaini, back in the team for the first time since the start of December, the Belgian fluffed a chance to win over United’s sceptical fans by spooning a 10-yard left-foot shot over.
Opener: Robin van Persie fires home from the spot to give United the lead in the second half
Wrong way: Speroni can't get to Van Perie's spot kick as United take the lead
Suits you: Manchester United fans donned Eric Cantona masks after his infamous kick at the ground in 1995
Palace had their best spell early in the second half, when Rooney was back in his six-yard box belting a loose ball to safety. Then, just when another sorry chapter in United’s season was looming, they were gifted a penalty by Marouane Chamakh’s clumsy challenge on Evra .
Even though the foul was near the edge of the area, Pulis had no complaints about Michael Oliver’s decision. ‘It was a good decision by the referee’, he said. ‘I hate to say it but it was a penalty.’
Van Persie scored emphatically from the spot but United still needed a stunning save from David de Gea to deny substitute Cameron Jerome from equalising before Rooney stepped in to calm their nerves.
Van Persie nearly added a third when he rattled the bar but that would have been harsh on the hosts.
In the end United had come through a difficult task with some credit. Things are looking up and, with Rooney committed to the cause, could be about to get better.
Jumping for joy: Van Persie celebrates opening the scoring for the Premier League champions
Before and after: David Moyes with Tony Pulis (left) and leaving the pitch with the three points
Head first: Nemanja Vidic (centre) attacks the ball with Palace defender Damien Delaney
Impressive: Crystal Palace's supporters hang out a giant banner of their players before the match
No joy: Van Persie attempts a overhead kick as United struggled to break down the home side early on
Under the lights: Palace suffered a rare home defeat and remain embroiled in the relegation battle
Not so lucky charm: Palace's eagle mascot Kayla before the clash with United
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