Manchester United v Crystal Palace ratings: Fred 8, Ronaldo 6; Tomkins 8, Benteke 4

Brazilian midfielder scores winner for Red Devils in Rangnick's first game in charge

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: The Spaniard has been on of United’s best platers, yet his team haven’t kept a clean sheet at home in any competition this season. New boss Rangnick promised to tighten the defence. He did. A first clean sheet, though Ayew really should have scored. Getty

Diogo Dalot - 7: Accomplished on Thursday against Arsenal in his first league start of the season. Up against it with Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, but did well and was another with improved energy under the new manager. EPA

Victor Lindelof - 8: Easiest first half of his season so far against the team who won in Manchester against City a month ago. Comfortable against Benteke. Carried the ball forward and even onto the wings, but Palace got a foothold in the second. Booked. United’s best defender. EPA

Harry Maguire - 7: As advanced as he’s been this season. Enjoyed spraying the ball about. Didn’t enjoy getting floored and having his bloodied head bandaged. PA

Alex Telles - 7: First shot of the match as United looked fast, slick and purposeful in the opening half. Hit top of woodwork. The Brazilian is doing ok in Luke Shaw’s absence and had more touches than any other player on the pitch. AP

Fred - 8: Much better in recent weeks and continued with more advanced role – despite being a defensive midfielder. Two of his first half cross field passes found Palace shirts - rare mistakes in the first 30 minutes from the whole team. Scored the key goal. And didn’t he enjoy it. PA

Scott McTominay - 6: Confident and purposeful start like the rest. Blocked a Tomkins shot, passed the ball towards the fans rather than his own players at the start of the second half. Booked again. And he could hardly complain. Again. United still lose the ball too much in the middle. AP

Bruno Fernandes - 7: Linked well with Ronaldo. Fouled from behind and was fouled from behind himself. Three shots in first half but innefective in what looked like a 4-2-2-2 formation which killed United’s width at times and limited the threat from Sancho and Rashford. PA

Marcus Rashford - 7: Bright start in a high press as he chased down defenders and the goalkeeper. Made key passes, won a free-kick, did a lot of running around Ronaldo. AP

Jadon Sancho - 6: Free role on the right and the left. Surging run into box from the left just before the hour as United pushed for an opener. Curled ball in a minute later as the noise level increased and fans urged a goal. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6: Shot wide after eight minutes and fired free-kick went over soon after. Had another shot deflected over. Leaped high and cleverly headed to set up Fernandes after 25 minutes. Much quieter in the second half. Seldom has a supporting player around him when United attack centrally. EPA

SUBS: Mason Greenwood – (On for Sancho 62’) 6: One key pass in a compact Mourinho type performance from United which worked against Palace. Will it work against a better team? Be interesting to see how Rangnick used the most talented young player at the club.. Getty

Anthony Elanga – (On for Rashford 76’) N/A. PA

Donny van de Beek – (On for Fernandes 87’) N/A. Reuters

CRYSTAL PALACE RATIINGS: Vicente Guaita - 7: Solid one-handed save from Fernandes strike after 25 minutes. Good punch just after break to take ball off Ronaldo’s head but was beaten by Telles free-kick that clipped top of bar. No chance with Fred finish. Getty

Nathaniel Clyne - 7: First appearance since February for right-back who looked very assured on return. Booked after half an hour for tasty follow-through challenge on Fred. Got touch on Sancho shot that looped just over own bar and had Guaita back-peddling. Getty

James Tomkins - 8: Headed clear Fred shot as United stepped up first-half pressure. Palace played a high backline and the fear was Tomkins would be caught out for pace – but never happened and he excelled in defence. Won towering header in United box to set-up great chance that Ayew put wide. Getty

Marc Guehi - 7: Always looking to play out from back, as manager Patrick Vieira demands, even with United pressing high, particularly in first half. Stood tall to block Ronaldo shot on turn 18 minutes in and his positioning was spot on with balls into box. Booked in second-half for foul on Rashford. AP

Tyrick Mitchell - 7: Nice interchange of passes with Zaha that led to Eagles winning corner in rare first-half attack. A calm presence at left-back, winning challenges and kept passing simple. Getty

Conor Gallagher - 6: Important intervention in first few minutes to deny Ronaldo chance to shoot, the in-form midfielder fizzed around without the cutting edge moments in other games this season. Reuters

Jeffrey Schlupp - 5: Hassled and harried United when they were in possession but Palace needed more from him going forward. Arguably could have closed down Fred quicker before United midfielder scored. Getty

Cheikhou Kouyate - 7: Sat in screening role in front of Palace defence and was powerful presence, although relieved just before break when slipped at crucial moment allowing Dalot space to shoot over. AP

Jordan Ayew - 5: Had one curling effort wide from outside penalty area in first half that didn’t trouble de Gea. Should have broken deadlock with 15 minutes to go to but volleyed wide from narrow angle. Costly miss as Fred scored soon after. Reuters

Christian Benteke - 4: Back up front in place of Odsonne Edouard, the Belgian barely figured in the game - although was starved of service - and was little surprise when he was replaced in second half. AFP

Wilfried Zaha - 6: Palace talisman had game’s first shot on target but struck shot straight at De Gea from distance. Well marked by United, given little time on the ball and couldn’t make mark against former club. PA

SUBS: Odsonne Edouard – (On for Benteke 67’) 4: Similar to man he replaced, little service, no impact. AP Michael Olise – (On for Ayew 84’) N/A. Guilty of cardinal sin of failing to get free-kick from out wide over first man with teammates waiting in box

Eberechi Eze – (On for Kouyate 84’). N/A. Getty

A fine goal from Fred earned Ralf Rangnick victory against Crystal Palace in his first match as Manchester United interim manager.

The game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, with an organised and determined Palace side proving difficult for United to break down, when the ball fell to Fred on the edge of the box and the midfielder fired home into the far corner in the 77th minute.

A delighted Old Trafford erupted as United secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid-September. Rangnick had watched from the stands on Thursday as Michael Carrick's last game as caretaker manager ended in a 3-2 win over Arsenal.

United’s third Premier League win in 10 matches also brought with it a first home clean sheet of the campaign on an afternoon when an energetic start petered out, providing Rangnick with plenty of food for thought.

Palace went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock two minutes before Fred's winner. The excellent James Tomkins headed a fine corner to the far post, where Jordan Ayew could only direct across the face of goal from a tight angle.

United are sixth in the table, three points shy of West Ham in fourth but 11 behind leaders Manchester City. Palace are 13th with 16 points.