Manchester United fought back to beat 10-man Crystal Palace and go third in the Premier League amid penalty controversy and a contentious red card decision.

Palace were on course for a third straight win at Old Trafford when Maxence Lacroix, who had opened the scoring for the visitors in the fourth minute, grabbed at Matheus Cunha in the second half.

Although the initial contact was outside the penalty box, Lacroix did not let go as the Brazil forward entered the area.

Cunha then went down and, after being sent to the screen, referee Chris Kavanagh stood by his initial decision to award a penalty – and also sent Lacroix off as the United attacker would have had a goalscoring opportunity.

Bruno Fernandes fired the 57th-minute spot-kick past Dean Henderson to equalise, and Benjamin Sesko put the hosts in front eight minutes later when he powered home a header from Fernandes’ cross.

The Slovenia striker was scoring for the third successive game and took his tally to seven in his past eight matches.

Former United goalkeeper Henderson prevented Casemiro from increasing the hosts’ lead with a brilliant reaction save and later also stopped a dangerous effort from substitute Amad Diallo.

The result extends Michael Carrick’s record in charge to six wins and a draw from seven games and takes his side above Aston Villa into third on goal difference.

It Is the first time United have been as high as third since Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge in 2023.

Palace are 14th in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and will surely target the Conference League as another piece of silverware and European qualification before boss Oliver Glasner leaves the club this summer.

Man Utd analysis: Another win but anger with Ratcliffe remains

They may be up to third and in fine form, but not everything at Manchester United is rosy.

At the start of the second half, some fans took out a banner declaring “MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants” in reference to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial immigration comments.

While supporters may remain disaffected at Ratcliffe’s remarks, on-pitch matters could not be going much better under interim boss Carrick.

Given United have no European football and, after their trip to Newcastle on Wednesday, no more midweek games, it would now be a shock if they do not qualify for the Champions League.

After struggling to make an impact under Ruben Amorim, Sesko is now in a rich vein of form and offering the kind of physical presence in attack Rasmus Hojlund was unable to produce in two seasons as United’s leading striker.

The presence of Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo clearly helps in terms of taking the pressure off and, with the decisive little bits of good fortune any team needs to succeed also going their way, United are in a good place.

Cunha is bound to be criticised for going down too easily in the incident that changed the game but that overlooks the fact Lacroix’s actions made it possible.

The only blow for Carrick was the fact left-back Luke Shaw was taken off after 24 minutes with injury and must be a doubt for the Newcastle match.

Crystal Palace analysis: Eagles start well but left to rue Lacroix dismissal

After 14 months of watching three at the back not working for their team, United’s fans were presented with a lesson in how it should be done by Glasner.

The Austrian's background as a Europa League and FA Cup winner shows he knows what he is doing despite the travails at Selhurst Park this season, which essentially boil down to recruitment and Glasner’s fury at having his best players sold without adequate replacements coming in.

Tactically though, his idea is sound. More to the point, unlike Amorim, he is able to get players to fill the right spaces at the right time – or at least he did on this occasion.

Lacroix’s fourth-minute goal was the earliest United had conceded all season and Palace impressed in the first half, with Adam Wharton looking sharp in midfield against one of the clubs who would like to sign him in the summer.

While the hosts did get a measure of momentum before the break, the Eagles reached the interval looking well set to claim a much-needed victory.

Sadly for Palace, United overturned a half-time deficit against them to win for the second time this season.

Unlike at Selhurst Park, when Palace were worn out after a midweek European assignment, this time they were on the wrong end of a decision that changed the entire game.

They did try to push for an equaliser, but in reality Henderson was the main reason Palace left with just a one-goal defeat given United had a handful of chances to put the game to bed late on.

What comes next?

Manchester United’s next game is in the Premier League at Newcastle on Wednesday (20:15 GMT kick-off), while Crystal Palace go to Tottenham on Thursday (20:00). (BBC)