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Jose admits Man Utd ‘lucky’ to beat Crystal Palace

Manchester United came from 0-2 to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in stoppage time in a thrilling game at Selhurst Park on Monday night football.

Andros Townsend had given the hosts an 11th minute lead with a deflected effort into the top corner before Crystal Palace caught our defence sleeping with a quick free kick that saw Patrick van Aanholt finish one-on-one with David de Gea.

Our comeback started on 55 minutes with Chris Smalling’s header across goal into the far corner from Antonio Valencia’s cross, and then Romelu Lukaku showing good composure to equalise in the final 15 minutes after Alexis Sanchez’s effort deflected and looped onto the crossbar.

Nemanja Matic scored a stunning 30-yard winner in the first minute of stoppage time – the Serbian’s first goal for Manchester United following his arrival from Chelsea over the summer.

Speaking after the game, Jose Mourinho admitted we were ‘lucky’ to beat relegation-placed Crystal Palace on Monday night.  The boss is quoted by ESPN as saying:

“I think the first goal is a bad goal. Then we concede the goal that is good to show the kids in the academies around the country, to see top teams and top players can concede silly goals.

“But then the attitude was fantastic, the intensity, the dynamic, the risk and then you need that little bit of luck to win in the last minute, but I think I would say we deserve because the dominance in that last half hour was huge.”

Victory moves us back into second place, ahead of Liverpool who we host on Saturday lunchtime.

We have now opened up a nine-point lead over Chelsea in the battle for Champions League football next season, with nine games to go.