5 talking points as Man Utd drop more Premier League points at Crystal Palace

And you thought the draw at Chelsea was dull didn't you?

Manchester United outdid that on a dismal, grey evening in the mists of Selhurst Park, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side struggled to create a chance of any real note against Roy Hodgson's stubborn, very Roy Hodgson-esque side.

Palace got the point that they prepared for as United ran into their solid defence over and over and over again, with the hosts also carving out a couple of decent chances, notably through Andros Townsend who volleyed just wide.

Mason Greenwood perhaps had United's best effort when he fired over late on, but they ultimately fell well short of their own high standards.

Here are some talking points we managed to find.

1. Dean Henderson's 'day of reckoning'

You'd watch that if cinemas ever become a thing again, wouldn't you?

It might be a slow burn psychological thriller in which Dean has to trudge his way through Premier League games against half of the bottom half and also get to know the Europa League intimately, until eventually he one day usurps David de Gea – absent for personal reasons here – and takes hold of the one thing he prizes above all else, the Manchester United No.1 shirt.

Gary Neville's up for it anyway.

"I always thought when I played for United that the No.1 spot at the club was probably the most scrutinised position in English football, and Dean Henderson's chances are coming more and more," he said before the game, in what proved to be the highlight of the first half.

"You'd have to think in these next few months the day of reckoning is going to come when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to decide whether he is the Manchester United No.1 of the future."

Ole being cast in a sort of Terminator role there, it seems.

Yeah I'd watch that too.

2. Bruno Fernandes looks absolutely goosed

You can't criticise him too much because he's brilliant, and it is precisely because he is so brilliant that Solskjaer throws him onto the pitch week in, week out no matter who United are playing.

He simply can't leave him alone for fear of what could happen if he did, a bit like a 90s kid with a Tamagotchi, but different in the sense that it isn't Fernandes himself that you're concerned about, it's the other lads who play around him.

Without him they look like they've got their batteries in the wrong way around, meaning that there is an awful lot of pressure on the shoulders of a player who might win you a game in a moment, with emphasis on the might.

Over the next year United's task is surely to build a team that allows him to have an off day.

Or just a day off.

3. Tell you who else is a good player: Paul Pogba

Legend has it that if you watch Nemanja Matic and Fred together in the same midfield for too long then a hazy mist (or is it fog? What's the difference?) descends, you slowly drift into a slumber and you fall into a sort of slow decay that can only be matched by the Serbian's movement.

Hope that didn't happen to you too.

4. Christian Benteke's day will come again, eventually

Great on his day isn't he, Benteke?

Unfortunately for Palace in the context of this game, his last day was only nine days ago at Brighton, meaning that the next one won't be due for a few weeks yet. Sheffield United away in early May maybe, or Villa at home the week after.

On this day he decided that the fact he was playing against United meant that he should try and pull off that overhead kick he once scored against them at Old Trafford for Liverpool.

He failed. Twice.

Not his day.

5. So we're doing this again are we?

Leicester dropped points at Burnley earlier on Wednesday and one or both of Liverpool and Chelsea will do tomorrow, meaning that we look like we're set for one of those madcap fights to the death in which the Premier League teams that suffer the fewest outright embarrassments might just find themselves in the top four.

Just as long as we never have to talk about this game again, we'll take it.

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