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Ten weeks since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived at Manchester United as interim manager and his transformative powers remain strong.
His latest trick proved to be the revival of Romelu Lukaku as a goalscoring force which kept the momentum rolling forward with victory at Crystal Palace while in the grip of a crisis of injuries.
Lukaku’s first Premier League goal since January 2 fired United ahead at Selhurst Park.
Manchester United registered an eighth consecutive away win on Wednesday by beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park
Former Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku scored twice for United with a goal either side of half time to put the visitors in control
It owed much to a fabulous run by Luke Shaw but the finish was stylish and confident with his right foot and took him into double figures in club football this season.
Lukaku’s second of the night was hooked in with his left foot after central defenders Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelhof had kept a corner alive.
Palace pulled one back through Joel Ward and were taking risks in search of an equaliser when Ashley Young scored United’s third in the closing minutes.
The visitors stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 games under Solskjaer and tightened their stranglehold on Palace.
The South Londoners have not beaten United in a league game for nearly 28 years.
Roy Hodgson might have hoped this was a night his in-form team might exploit an injury crisis in the ranks of the visitors but the script did not unfold in quite that manner.
With eight first-teamers missing through injury and Marcus Rashford adjudged to be only fit enough to start on the bench, Lukaku was deployed up front, through the centre with Alexis Sanchez to his left and full-back Diogo Dalot operating as a right winger.
Perhaps the plan was for teenager Dalot to help his captain Ashley Young to shackle Wilfried Zaha but United were soon onto the front foot and Lukaku was causing problems for a Palace defence, who were without Aaron Wan-Bisska and Mamadou Sakho, both injured.
Vicente Guaita escaped once in the opening seconds when he misjudged a long ball forward by Dalot and the goalkeeper was beaten in the air by Lukaku.
And again, soon after, when United’s Belgium international striker squandered a wonderful chance from a corner delivered by Luke Shaw.
Crystal Palace mascot Kayla the Eagle perched herself on top of one of the goals before the match on Wednesday evening
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked focussed as he made his way to the dugout before kick-off at Selhurst Park
James McArthur (left) challenged United midfielder Fred, who was starting his first Premier League match since Boxing Day
United No 7 Alexis Sanchez made his first start in five matches with several of his attacking team-mates out with injuries
Palace No 10 Andros Townsend reacted by bringing his hands to his face after missing an early chance to put the hosts ahead
Ten yards out, well set to shoot and completely unmarked in the centre of the goal, Lukaku volleyed over with the inside of his left foot.
The Palace resistance lasted for little more than half an hour and was broken when Shaw dribbled deep into their territory from the United left.
Lukaku found space, accepted a slick pass on the turn and finished by curling a low shot into the far corner.
It was cool and clinical and the visitors deserved the lead.
Although Palace almost summoned an instant response as Andros Townsend found Jeffrey Schlupp all alone in front of David de Gea’s goal.
Schlupp at full stretch could not keep his header down and it flashed over.
Townsend was Palace’s best attacking threat in the first half – operating in the spaces left by Shaw who attacked more successfully than he defended – and twice went close on the counter-attack when the game was goalless.
First clipping over at the near post from a low cross by James McArthur and then fizzing one narrowly wide from 25 yards.
United came out in search of a second goal to settle the game and subdue the home crowd.
Visitors United went in front on 33 minutes when Belgian striker Lukaku fired home from just inside the Palace penalty area
Lukaku unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot as McArthur and defender Martin Kelly watched on from close quarters
As Lukaku saw the ball hit the net for his first goal of the night, the Red Devils frontman began to wheel away in celebration
Lukaku pointed towards the sky as he and his United team-mates made their way back to their own half after going 1-0 up
United midfielders Scott McTominay (centre) and Fred congratulated Lukaku on his opening goal at Selhurst Park
Paul Pogba headed over with a terrific chance from a cross by Dalot and Lukaku miscued horribly from an acute angle before scoring his second.
Young’s corner was won in the deep by Smalling and knocked down by Lindelhof. Lukaku pounced and hooked the bouncing ball past Guaita with his left boot.
Belatedly, Palace generated some forward momentum and forced United back. There was another injury scare for Solskjaer when David de Gea collided with a post as he watched a header by James Tomkins drift over.
De Gea’s right knee caught the frame of the goal and he was clearly in pain but was able to continue after treatment.
The United goalkeeper was soon beaten when Ward converted Schlupp’s cross from the left with a diving header and Solskjaer’s team wobbled.
Sanchez was booked for handball as his frustration boiled over and Scott McTominay sparked a fracas in midfield for hauling Wilfried Zaha to the floor.
De Gea saved from Max Meyer, who gave Palace fresh impetus from the bench, Michy Batshuayi headed over and Luka Milivojevic curled a free-kick wide.
Solskjaer reinforced his defence by sending on Eric Bailly at right back and moving Young onto the wing and it was young who scored the third, forcing a shot past Guaita from an acute angle.
With the points secure, it was the cue for the United manager to send on 17-year-old James Garner for his debut.
Lukaku displayed impressive athleticism to beat Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita with an excellent finish for United’s second
Keeper Guaita was left helpless as a flying Lukaku struck the ball with his left foot and it rocketed high into the Palace goal
The ball entered the Palace goal just underneath the crossbar as James Tomkins (left) and his team-matches watched on
United celebrated together as a team after doubling their lead to 2-0 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Wednesday
Palace pulled a goal back shortly after the hour-mark when right back Joel Ward got on the scoresheet with a diving header
Max Meyer retrieved the ball from the back of United’s net as defender Ward celebrated his first goal since January 2016
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