What is it about Casemiro and Crystal Palace? Seventeen days had passed since the Brazilian’s yellow card at Selhurst Park saw him banned and sent Manchester United into a spin as they threw away their lead. This time it was a red but the outcome was so nearly the same for Erik ten Hag.
United seemed to be in control and cruising to victory at Old Trafford, as they had been in South London last month.
Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford looked to have taken the game away from Palace this time.
But it all threatened to unravel again in the 66th minute from the most unlikely of scenarios. A throw-in. United took it level with the Palace box and Jeffrey Schlupp ploughed into the back of Antony as he tried to shield the ball, sending the Brazilian flying off the pitch.
Casemiro was first on the scene to defend his compatriot as he pushed Schlupp in the chest, and Antony sprang off the floor to barge him as well. The rest of the players duly steamed in to make up a 20-man melee.
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was sent off after he grabbed Will Hughes by the throat during a mass bust-up
The Brazilian lost his temper and grabbed Hughes by the throat during an incident that was spotted by the VAR officials
The second-half flashpoint involved multiple players from both United and Palace, leading to Casemiro’s red card
The Brazilian couldn’t hide his disappointment and frustration as he made the long walk to the Old Trafford tunnel
As referee Andre Marriner waited for everyone to calm down and mete out the appropriate punishments, he was informed by VAR official Tony Harrington that Casemiro’s stranglehold on Will Hughes might be worth a second look.
Marriner went to the monitor and agreed with Harrington for the second time in the game, having earlier penalised Hughes for handball.
It seemed harsh to single out Casemiro when all hell was letting loose around him, but he is experienced enough to know that you can’t put your hands around an opponent’s throat.
He was off and once again United will be left counting the cost.
When Casemiro was booked for a foul on Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park, it triggered an immediate one-match ban.
United lost their heads in the dying minutes of that game as Michael Olise equalised in injury-time, and then lost at Arsenal four days later without their midfield talisman.
Casemiro will be missing for three games this time – two feisty affairs against Leeds home and away this week, followed by Leicester’s visit to Old Trafford.
Judging by the Arsenal result – United’s only loss in the last 15 games – his absence cannot be understated.
Marcus Rashford had given United breathing space by scoring their second goal not long before Casemiro’s red card
The in-form striker turned home a low driven cross by Luke Shaw to give United a well-merited two-goal advantage
With Christian Eriksen out of action until early May, United have lost their midfield tandem in the space of eight days.
Scott McTominay is still sidelined, so new loan signing Marcel Sabizter may now play a more significant role against Leeds than he might have expected.
Sabitzer came on for his debut here to help steady the ship after Schlupp of all people pulled a goal back and Palace wobbled United again.
But Ten Hag’s side held on for a 13th straight win in all competitions to move within eight points of leaders Arsenal.
The United boss will have particularly pleased with the character his players showed here, both in defending Antony and then battling with 10 men to win again.
Lisandro Martinez, in particular, was immense.
The Old Trafford crowd sensed they were needed too, and got behind their team on the day United remembered those who died at Munich.
The peculiar thing was that, up until the sending-off, there had little to suggest that this wouldn’t be a routine win.
United were ahead in the seventh minute after Hughes blocked Rashford’s cross with his right hand.
Hughes may argue that he was close to Rashford, but the hand was high above his head when contact was made.
VAR thought as much and advised referee Marriner to view the pitch-side monitor.
From that point on it felt like a formality, and so did the fact that Fernandes would convert from the penalty spot.
The United captain advanced towards the ball with that little skip and stutter step before sending Vicente Guaita the wrong way.
Ten Hag’s side lacked the penetration to make their possession count and he remedied that just before the hour mark by sending on Alejandro Garnacho for Wout Weghorst and playing Rasford down the middle.
It paid off immediately as Garnacho fed Luke Shaw in the 62nd minute and he crossed to Rashford who stuck out a leg to stab the ball under Guaita from close range for his 11th goal in the last 13 games.
But Jeffrey Schlupp halved the deficit after Casemiro was dismissed to set up a grandstand finale at Old Trafford
Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Marcus Rashford after converting his sixth-minute penalty to hand Man United the lead
The Portuguese midfielder confidently stroked home his penalty to hand United an early advantage at Old Trafford
The Fernandes penalty was United’s only goal during a first-half in which they dominated Crystal Palace before their own fans
Wout Weghorst reacts after his first-half header was saved by the Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita
United forward Marcus Rashford bursts beyond Palace defenders Marc Guehi and Chris Richards in the opening period
The sending-off changed the complexion of the game completely, though, as United tried to regroup. David de Gea punched Marc Guehi’s header over, but from the corner Cheick Doucoure’s mis-hit shot reached Schlupp who turned the ball home.
Ten Hag sent on Sabitzer followed by Victor Lindelof for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire for the unfortunate Garnacho, who looked about as happy as you would expect a substitute to be when he is substituted after 28 minutes.
But this was a day for big hearts, not bruised egos.
It was a poignant afternoon at Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag and Patrick Vieira led the teams out with floral wreaths to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster
The two teams lined up around the centre circle for an impeccably observed minute of silence ahead of kick-off