It's Crystal clear that Ten Hag is at the end

FRANCIS, a seven-year-old United fan, participated in a half-time penalty contest.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

He was asked if he enjoyed the first half.

"No, not really," he bluntly replied. Francis showed admirable restraint with his succinct analysis. The away followers in the Arthur Wait Stand will not have been as forgiving when the Reds players approached them.

They were crammed into two-and-a-half blocks and were United's best performer, singing defiantly from kick-off until full-time. Gone are the days when Reds fans used to descend on Selhurst Park and outnumber its denizens for processions and celebrations.

This marked a Premier League-era record 13th defeat of the season. United have now lost 18 games overall, their most since Dave Sexton's first term in charge in 1977-78.

Sexton fell on his sword despite seven successive victories. Erik ten Hag will do well to record another win over the coming weeks. The Dutchman eschewed the travelling supporters when the least they deserved was acknowledgement from the manager on another humiliating night.

The United manager vented at his players, at the fourth official and the referee. With every outburst, Ten Hag came closer to conceding. He looked beaten up. Oliver Glasner, responsible for the beating, was energetic and proactive in the nearby technical area.

'You're f*****g s**t, hollered the Palace supporters. They started the 'Olés' in the 75th minute at 4-0 and there was the obligatory rendition of 'You're getting sacked in the morning!

United cannot qualify for the Champions League and there has always been a managerial change during, or at the end, of a season in that event. The Reds will not qualify for Europe at this rate. They are eighth and in danger of finishing outside the top seven for the first time since 1990.