Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester United: Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young seal record win

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Manchester United sealed a club-record eighth consecutive away win with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Lukaku struck in either half, ending a nine-game goal drought to put United in control, but Joel Ward reduced the arrears midway through the second half to give Palace hope.

But that was extinguished seven minutes from time as Ashley Young's second goal of the season extended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 games.

The victory sees United stay in the hunt for the top four; a point and a place behind fourth-place Arsenal. Palace, who see a six-game unbeaten run come to an end, remain in 14th, five points clear of the relegation zone.

United started brightly and should have taken the lead inside eight minutes when Luke Shaw's corner found Lukaku unmarked in the Palace area, but the Belgium international volleyed over from close range.

It was Palace's turn to squander an early chance three minutes later as Andros Townsend fired wide at the near post after James McArthur had skipped around Scott McTominay and delivered a teasing ball into the box.

Lukaku atoned for his earlier miss on 33 minutes, curling his first goal since January 5 into the far corner beyond Vicente Guaita after Shaw's marauding run into Palace territory.

Palace should have hauled themselves level immediately, but Jeff Schlupp headed wide from Townsend's inch-perfect cross.

Paul Pogba missed a glorious chance to double United's lead within a minute of the restart, heading over from Diogo Dalot's cross from close range.

But it was not long before United had their second, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof keeping a corner alive in the Palace area with two headers before Lukaku outmuscled Schlupp, controlled and hooked his second over Guaita.

Palace were handed a lifeline on 66 minutes through an unlikely source when defender Ward ghosted in behind Shaw to apply the finishing touch to a fine Schlupp cross.

But their hopes of staging a comeback were dashed on 83 minutes when Pogba released Young on the overlap, and the United skipper fired a third home through bodies to sealed an impressive victory for Solskjaer's injury-ravaged side.

Opta stats

• Man Utd have won eight consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time in their history.
• Crystal Palace have played more Premier League games without ever winning against Man Utd (D4 L16) than any side has against another in the competition's history.
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 22 league games against Crystal Palace, since a 0-3 away defeat in May 1991 (W18 D4).
• Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lost more Premier League matches against Man Utd (12) than he has against any other side.
• Eight of Romelu Lukaku's 10 Premier League goals this season have been scored away from home - only Harry Kane (10) has netted more on the road in 2018-19 so far.
• Man Utd's Romelu Lukaku has scored in seven of his last 10 Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace, including in three of his four games for the Red Devils.
• James McArthur became just the fourth player to reach 150 appearances for Crystal Palace in the Premier League after Joel Ward, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha.
• Crystal Palace's Joel Ward ended a run of 86 Premier League appearances without a goal, since netting versus Chelsea in August 2015.

The managers

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Roy Hodgson: "We were comfortably beaten in the end. I give the players credit because they didn't fold at 2-0 down and we played quite well. At 2-1 we were having a go and had high hopes, but we were caught on the counter."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "It's a great away win. We controlled it well. That's a few away wins on the bounce. I was always wary of this game after the tough run of games we have had but we started really well which is always vital at Selhurst Park."

What's next?

Palace travel to Burnley and United host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm.

Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.