Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 0

Last updated : 10 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Louis Saha broke his scoring duck for the season as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace at Old Trafford to win through to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

The French international, who has struggled to find his best form since returning from injury, rediscovered his scoring touch against Iain Dowie's side.

Saha was the only player in the United line-up that had featured in Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, and he broke the deadlock midway through the opening period.

He somehow managed to squeeze between Palace defenders Gary Borrowdale and Mark Hudson as he latched on to Quinton Fortune's long throughball before firing home a shot inside the near post from a tight angle.

Palace, who had a much-changed starting line-up to the one that drew with Arsenal on Saturday, created a couple of dangerous openings in the first period.

Hungarian international Sandor Torghelle forced Tim Howard to make a fine save while Kleberson headed Shaun Derry's inswinging corner off the line.

There was an element of good fortune to United's second goal six minutes before the break following a blunder by Eagles keeper Julian Speroni.

The Argentinian keeper allowed Kieran Richardson's shot from outside the box to slip under his body when he should have comfortably kept it out.

Palace were unlucky not to score just short of the hour when Howard denied Dougie Freedman and Ivan Kaviedes' follow-up shot was cleared off the line by Wes Brown.

United appeared to think the game was won and careless defensive play should have been punished as Palace substitutes Vassilios Lakis and Kaviedes both went close as the visitors refused to concede defeat.

But late on United had a couple of chances to score a third goal. Speroni made a brilliant save to deny Kleberson while Lakis headed Eric Djemba-Djemba's piledriver off the line.