Juan Mata comes off the bench and scores winner for Manchester United against Crystal Palace

JUAN Mata came on as a substitute to score in the 67th minute and give Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Manchester United's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (R) scores his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

JUAN Mata came on as a substitute to score in the 67th minute and give Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Just four minutes after coming on for Adnan Januzaj, the United midfielder curled a deflected shot past Julian Speroni to hand Louis van Gaal’s team its first win in four matches. It was another lackluster display, however, and United’s expensively assembled attacking lineup struggled to crack open the visitors’ defense for large parts of the match.

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Luke Shaw tested Julian Speroni with a low shot and Marouane Fellaini had a header cleared off the line, but United offered little else going forward.

Manchester United's Juan Mata celebrates scoring his side's opening goal.

Fraizer Campbell wasted a great chance to score for Palace against his old team in the first half, and United hung on for a rare clean sheet that lifted it up to a provisional fifth place.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession, but Neil Warnock’s defense dropped deep and United barely entered the away box.

At the other end, United’s defense had a predictably chaotic look to it.

Manchester United and Crystal Palace obseve a minute's silence for Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.

With four center backs out through injury or suspension, Daley Blind and Paddy McNair started and the early signs were not too good. Campbell made just two appearances during his five-year spell at Old Trafford, but he was causing problems for United’s center back pairing.

His best chance came when Joel Ward lumped a simple ball long. Blind and McNair both tried and failed to clear, which meant Campbell was through on goal but the striker panicked and snatched at his opportunity, which flew over David de Gea’s bar.

“We had a great opportunity to put them under pressure with the chance we had for Frazier, but it wasn’t to be today,” Warnock said.

With United still struggling after the break, Van Gaal looked to Mata to make the difference and he put United ahead shortly after his introduction.

Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates scoring.

Mata exchanged passes with Angel Di Maria and fired a curling shot past Speroni, which the Palace goalkeeper should have done better to keep out.

Mata also struck the post on a counterattack and Robin van Persie wasted the follow-up, blazing high and wide, but one goal proved enough.

Originally published as Juan Mata comes off the bench and scores winner for Manchester United against Crystal Palace