Man Utd 4 - Crystal Palace 0: Fellaini grabs brace to cause more pain for Hodgson

EACH time he scored, Marouane Fellaini pointed to the name on the back of his shirt.

Marouane FellainiReuters

Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini celebrates scoring

It was already on the lips of the Manchester United fans. They had sung it before he struck once, let alone twice.

And not ironically. Booed at Old Trafford last season, celebrated now, Fellaini has become a cult hero. Tipped to leave when Jose Mourinho was appointed, a David Moyes buy and a Louis van Gaal favourite has become one of the Portuguese’s favourite players.

“I always trusted Marouane since day one,” said Mourinho. “I think only a strong character could resist the difficulties here because he had some difficult times when people didn’t recognise his qualities. He is a fighter, a guy with lots of pride and I am really pleased I helped him reach this level and change the perception the fans have.” 

Now they cheer the man they used to jeer. Fellaini had been Mourinho’s super-sub. Now, with Paul Pogba injured, he is a superb starter.

Four years into his Old Trafford career, he scored twice in a United game for the first time. He is United’s unlikely talisman. The midfielder struck from a striker’s range.

He was a few yards out when he volleyed in Ashley Young’s cross, equally close when he headed in Marcus Rashford’s free kick.

A rout was completed when the actual centre-forward Romelu Lukaku struck for the 11th time this season. It was the sixth time already United have scored four this season.

 The first three goals came from their Moyes boys. His two signings, Juan Mata and Fellaini, found the net. But it was still a typical Mourinho win. Efficient, effective, easy.

United drew too many games at Old Trafford last season. Now they have a 100 percent winning record. Played six, won six, scored 21, conceded one.

Crystal Palace have conceded nine in Manchester in the last week alone. They let in five against City, four against United. They have made the worst goalless start ever to a top-flight season.

Manchester UnitedGETTY

Manchester United have won all their games in the Premier League so far

They still have not scored. Though Bacary Sako tested David de Gea with a stinging shot, they rarely looked finding the net.

“We didn’t have that threat in the final third,” boss Roy Hodgson admitted.

He ended up giving a debut to Freddie Ladapo, signed from non-league Margate. Palace were without a specialist centre-forward in the absence of the injured Christian Benteke.

Stand-in striker Sako has not scored a league goal since 2015. No wonder Mourinho could leave his finest centre-back, Eric Bailly, on the bench. 

He also dropped the in-form Anthony Martial, a decision that was vindicated almost immediately. In the third minute, Rashford spun away from Joel Ward and cut the ball back.

Mata supplied the calm finish. He marked his 200th Premier League appearance in style. It was yet another early goal scored by United’s fast starters. Yet another conceded soon after kick-off by Palace’s dozing defence. 

United got four. It could have been more. There could have been more goals. It took a combination of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and the post to keep out one attempt from the terrific Rashford. 

Lukaku hit the advertising hoardings when he seemed likelier to score. The substitute Martial was denied by Hennessey before he set up Lukaku. 

“We started strong and we finished strong,” said Mourinho. And Palace started badly and finished badly.

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