Raphael Varane turned cheerleader. Fred celebrated a block. Whenever the ball went dead, the Manchester United supporters came alive.
The first red card of Erik ten Hag's tenure and Jeffrey Schlupp's deft volley were a unique test of United's resolve. The team that historically has a habit of putting their supporters through the wringer did so again. For those stood on the terraces, it was worth it.
When seven minutes of added time were announced, Sir Alex Ferguson chuckled with the actor James Nesbitt in the directors' box. Eventually, he blew his cheeks, those nerves still stirring within Ferguson almost a decade on from when he headed upstairs.
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The United fans started the afternoon singing 'We'll never die' in homage to the victims of the Munich air disaster and ended it with a rendition of 'Oh, United we love you'. "We've seen it all, we've won the lot, we're Man United and we're never gonna stop," they chanted purposefully. This was another statement of intent.
United were so under the cosh after Schlupp struck in the 76th minute that Bruno Fernandes was accidentally felled by the referee; leaving the Palace manager Patrick Vieira apoplectic at their halted attack. United clung onto their lead into the 99th minute.
Fred was formidable after Casemiro's expulsion in the 70th minute. Lisandro Martinez was unbeatable. For thousands of United fans, "Argentina" was the victory cry.
Supporters floated out of Old Trafford hollering Martinez's ditty: "Tip toe, through the Kop End, with a cleaver, he's from Argentina!"
Ten Hag's game management was decisive with United a man down. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho's naivety was exposed, so he was sacrificed for an additional defender. Marcel Sabitzer was an urgent presence in midfield on his debut.
Even with the setback of Casemiro's three-match ban, United ended the day on an uplifting note; up to third for now and three points closer to Premier League leaders Arsenal. They have won 13 home games in succession since 2011.
On a day Anthony Martial was unavailable again through injury, it was apt United's ever-present Fernandes assumed responsibility with a successful penalty. Remarkably, Fernandes has missed one game in his three years with United and that was a mere illness he recovered from within days. Martial has suffered five separate injuries this season alone.
Fernandes hurt his knee in the 56th minute and two members of the United medical staff rushed onto the pitch. Garnacho had already been instructed to prepare to come on but there was never any danger of Fernandes coming off.
Perhaps Fernandes, Ten Hag's de facto captain, will provide a dressing down of Martial in the dressing room. This was the second of eight games in 26 days and the numbers for United's No.9 this season are unflattering. Martial has missed 20 of United's 34 matches this term and his absence during the seasonal calendar now totals 16 weeks.
With Martial hesitant to over-exert himself even when fit, his availability against the taxing trio of Leeds United, Barcelona and Newcastle this month has to be doubtful.
Ten Hag still had a solution. The ineffectual Wout Weghorst was hooked in the 59th minute, Marcus Rashford moved infield and three minutes later he was positioned perfectly to steer in Luke Shaw's cross for the elusive second goal. Rashford now has 19 club goals for the season. His goals have gained United a staggering 21 Premier League points.
The two-goal cushion was all the more vital when Casemiro needlessly confronted Will Hughes after a heated altercation between Antony and Schlupp. VAR concluded it warranted a red card and the midfielder, whose booking at Selhurst Park triggered a one-game suspension, is now banned for next week's double-header against Leeds and the visit of Leicester in a fortnight.
VAR was kind, as well as cruel, to United. In a week where Weghorst was denied a patent penalty against Nottingham Forest, the VAR was switched online to reassess Hughes's handball in the fifth minute. Mild disbelief was etched on the face of Hughes at the outcome though he did not protest.
A Fernandes penalty was once a weekly occurrence yet Fernandes had not taken a spotkick since he struck the post at Arsenal in April. He and Rashford debated over who should step up before referee Andre Marriner had reached the pitchside monitor and Fernandes the skipper pulled rank, despite Rashford converting United's previous penalty against Everton.
Vicente Guaita dove in the opposite direction for what was his 22nd penalty goal for United and, remarkably, his first since May 2021. Fernandes's previous two attempts against Arsenal and Aston Villa were both unsuccessful.
As Palace supporters had not taken up their full allocation, United's vocal contingent were next to the away section, baiting them by chanting Eric Cantona's name repeatedly 28 years on from his kung-fu kick.
Guilty of overconfidence while ahead at Selhurst, United were far more purposeful this time and the only blemish of their first-half was they ended it only a goal ahead. Fernandes led the press, the unexpected collaboration between Wan-Bissaka and Antony was productive again, with Luke Shaw as adventurous on the opposite flank and the attack underpinned by the prompt passing of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez.
The renascent Wan-Bissaka has a fit-again Diogo Dalot to contend with but the Portuguese cannot be certain of automatically regaining his place. It is a quirk of Wan-Bissaka's form that he has a more natural connection with Antony than the winger has with his fellow Portuguese speaker in Dalot.
Goals remain hard to come by for United and that is destined to be a recurring problem well into May. The weaker the opposition, the weaker the performance from Weghorst, whose place is secure indefinitely with Martial still as durable as papier-mâché. Weghorst was replaced by Garnacho and, effectively, Rashford.
He and Fernandes are irreplaceable.
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