Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
The performance was hardly their most convincing of the season, but they found a way to win, which is something that has improved considerably under Michael Carrick.
After falling 0-1 behind early on, a red card for Palace’s goalscorer Maxence Lacroix turned the game on its head.
Bruno Fernandes stepped up to convert the penalty, and he assisted Benjamin Sesko for a bullet header to give United a lead they would not relinquish.
The Peoples Person asked its readers who they considered to be the player of the match.
Bruno Fernandes
The Portuguese magician was pivotal in turning the match around, and the fans were not blind to this.
74% of supporters voted for Fernandes as the player of the match.
It was also the player’s slide-rule pass that put Matheus Cunha through on goal, winning the penalty and resulting in the red card for the visitors.
Fernandes is now on 13 assists and needs just three more to provide more in a campaign than any other United player in Premier League history.
Benjamin Sesko
13% of supporters felt that the Slovenian deserved to be given the player of the match award.
Sesko has been in fine form in 2026 and was given his first start under Michael Carrick.
He scored a late equaliser against West Ham and was also responsible for the only goal of the game versus Everton.
The striker was once again the architect of a vital goal when he headed in Fernandes’ cross to give United the victory over Palace.
Harry Maguire
With injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire’s experience has been vital this season for the Red Devils.
He came off to a standing ovation on Sunday as the Old Trafford crowd enjoyed another strong showing.
12% of readers felt that Maguire was the man of the match after another strong showing at the centre of the defence.
Finally, 1% of people polled felt that another player deserved the player of the match, with Matheus Cunha winning the penalty or Noussair Mazraoui’s strong showing off the bench as potential candidates.

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 25 | 25 | 7 | 13 | 3 | – | 2,168′ |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 90′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 45′ |
| Total | 27 | 26 | 7 | 14 | 3 | – | 2,303′ |
Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
The post Bruno Fernandes: Man United star’s importance underlined by fans appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Leave a comment