Gary Cahill happy with defensive work in Crystal Palace’s stalemate with Manchester United

BY SAM SMITH

Gary Cahill felt that Crystal Palace frustrated Manchester United with their organised defending during the goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles limited the visitors to few chances and created plenty of opportunities of their own. Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood went close for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, while Patrick van Aanholt had Palace’s best attempt in the final few minutes but was denied by Dean Henderson.

Cahill has impressed in recent weeks and is often heard barking orders to the rest of the back four. The former Chelsea defender believed that his side keeping their shape well was enough to keep the Red Devils at bay.

“My voice is gone. It’s all about pulling people together, talking a lot and making sure we stepped up,” the 35-year-old told Sky Sports. “A couple of times we dropped a little bit too deep, you see it in the first half with the Rashford chance. When they get in between the lines they’re dangerous with their passes.

“It was important that we kept the [defensive] line up and worked really hard. We created some chances ourselves, so I thought it was a very good performance against a very good team. It was very pleasing because we know what their away form is like.

“In the last 20 games, or whatever, they haven’t lost. I thought we played really well – we were organised and we dug in when we had to. We created a couple of chances ourselves.

“If the midfield are too high or if the defence is too deep, you create gaps and that’s where you get punished in this league. There are a lot of clever players and you can see the talent that Man United have got. We knew that we had to stay close together and we frustrated them, which is a good sign on our behalf.”