Related items

• Mason Mount aware Man Utd must improve after stuttering start to the season

  Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount admits his side need a clear improvement after suffering their worst start to a Premier League season.

  Not since the 1989-90 campaign, when Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly one game away from the sack, have United lost four of their first seven league fixtures.

  But Joachim Andersen’s first-half goal for Palace inflicted the same fate on the current crop, which left the Old Trafford faithful booing at the end.

  Mount, who made his Premier League return after six weeks out with injury, says United must get better.

  “We know we need to win these games and it’s been a difficult start,” the England international told the club’s website.

  “As soon as they got the goal, they defended really well, they got bodies behind the ball and made it difficult to create. We had a few chances but it wasn’t enough.

  “We know we need to go back and look at the areas that we need to improve on – and we need to improve because we want to win games, we want to win every competition we’re in, we want to go right to the end. So it’s a tough one to take.

  “It was a tough start with the injury and a frustrating one but I used that time to look at areas where I could improve and coming back in the team last game, it felt good.

  “But you don’t want to lose games and, especially at home with the fans, we want to perform for them and win games for them. And yeah, we need to improve. We need to go away and look at some areas that just weren’t there.

  “But there are games coming thick and fast now. Every three days we’re playing in different competitions and this is a new start. The Champions League at home under the lights – it’s an exciting one to play in and hopefully we can perform and win that game now.”

  Andersen’s brilliant goal – a sweet first-time finish at the back post from an Eberechi Eze set-piece – proved enough for Palace to earn revenge for their Carabao Cup defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the week.

  And he enjoyed his match-winning moment.

  “That goal, for me personally, is something I’ll remember,” Andersen told the club’s official website.

  “It’s something that I need to improve on. I need to score more goals because I’m capable of scoring goals. I have the desire to score. I think I have a pretty good strike actually. I know I’m capable of scoring goals.

  “It was a good cross from Ebs and I just felt that someone would get a touch and I just sensed where the ball would fall, like a good striker would do, and I hit it really well. Amazing goal.”

• On This Day in 2009 – Emmanuel Adebayor fined for celebration against Arsenal

  Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was fined £25,000 and handed a suspended two-match ban by the Football Association for his celebration against former club Arsenal on this day in 2009.

  Adebayor was punished after he ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of visiting Gunners supporters after he scored in the 80th minute of a Premier League match.

  The then 25-year-old had already served a three-match suspension for violent conduct in a separate incident during the 4-2 victory at Eastlands on September 12.

  https://x.com/ManCity/status/1701543676080783846?s=20

  The Togo international appeared at Wembley and admitted a charge of improper conduct at a FA regulatory commission hearing.

  Adebayor’s acceptance of his behaviour was taken into account, but also the conduct of Arsenal supporters, who were also criticised for their personal abuse of Adebayor following his departure from the club the previous summer transfer window in a £25million deal.

  “In reaching its decision the commission took into account his admission of the charge, public apology and the extremely provocative nature of the abuse he received,” read a statement from the FA.

  “However, the commission also stated that players have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a proper manner and that such celebrations are unacceptable and have the potential to cause a serious public order incident.”

  Adebayor went on to play for Real Madrid before switching to Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham in August 2012 following a loan spell.

  His Premier League career continued with Crystal Palace before stints in Turkey at Basaksehir and Kayserispor, and he finished playing at Paraguayan Primera Division outfit Olimpia Asuncion.

• Ali Al-Hamadi’s goalscoring ability was never doubted by Johnnie Jackson

  Johnnie Jackson never doubted the goalscoring capabilities of Ali Al-Hamadi, whose impressive hat-trick proved decisive in AFC Wimbledon’s 4-1 win over Tranmere.

  The Iraqi international bagged his first career treble, leading the charge as AFC Wimbledon came from behind to pick up their first home win of the Sky Bet League Two season and move into the play-off places.

  Prior to Saturday’s contest, Al-Hamadi had found trouble converting his chances and his goal tally for the season sat at just one.

  However, Jackson insisted that it was an inevitability that the 21-year-old would find his shooting boots for Wimbledon.

  Jackson said: “I always said it was coming, but no one said it more than him.

  “No one here was worried about him scoring goals because you’re seeing how well he’s playing, seeing how many chances we’re creating for him as a team, how many he’s creating for himself by his own devilment.

  “We knew they’d come for him. It’s ironic how in one week you get one, and then the next week you go and get your hat-trick.

  “Delight for Ali, it’ll do him the world of good.”

  For Tranmere manager Nigel Adkins, the heroics of Al-Hamadi only brought frustration as his side’s wait for a point on the road this season continues.

  Rovers had snatched an early lead through Connor Jennings, but after Armani Little brought AFC Wimbledon level, it all went wrong for the visitors.

  Defeat leaves Tranmere in the relegation zone, where they started the day, having won only two of their first 10 games this season.

  However, Adkins has nonetheless found encouragement by the start his team made to the game.

  He said: “We started both halves really, really well. The first half especially.

  “Our intensity, our passing, our movement, our identity, our understanding of what we wanted. For the first 20 minutes, it was spot on.

  “And then goals changed the complexion of the game.”

  A key moment of the game came eight minutes after the interval, when Josh Turnbull saw red after a rash challenge on Isaac Ogundere.

  The challenge was right under the nose of Adkins, who understood referee Daniel Middleton’s decision to dismiss Turnbull.

  “It’s a thunderous challenge going in, committed,” Adkins added.

  “We want committed challenges going in, but I think in the climate of today, maybe a follow through is just enough [to be a red card].

  “It’s a fraction harsh, but the referee had a decision to make and we went down to 10 men.”