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Man Utd increased the pressure on Arsenal in the race for the top four with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. An early Damien Delaney own goal and a cracking effort from Matteo Darmian means United close the gap on Arsenal in fourth to just one point, although the Gunners have a game in hand.Louis van Gaals men were rarely troubled by a lacklustre Palace side, who looked to have one eye on Sundays FA Cup semi-final against Watford and didnt register a single shot on target. Attention now turns to The Emirates on Thursday evening where Arsenal take on West Bromwich Albion, live on Sky Sports 1. Morgan Schneiderlin, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial celebrate after Damien Delaneys own goal Julian Speroni was making his first start of the season for Palace as Alan Pardew made seven changes. The goalkeepers first task of the night was to pick the ball out of his net.Darmian latched onto a nice flick from Marcus Rashford down the left and fizzed a cross into the middle. It was a hopeful cross, but Delaney turned it into a good one as he clumsily turned the ball into his own net with his right foot. From that moment Palace were never in the game as United controlled proceedings through Wayne Rooney, who excelled in a deeper role. He was feeding the front three of Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard fruitful service and all that was lacking was a killer instinct in front of goal, otherwise the scoreline could have become very one-sided.Martial was denied on 23 minutes by a save from Speroni and the Palace stopper had to be even more alert seven minutes later to brilliantly tip away a fearsome shot from the right edge of the box by the lively French attacker. Louis van Gaal believes Manchester Uniteds latest win over Crystal Palace keeps them in with a chance of clinching a top four spot Delaney nearly doubled his tally of own goals for the night on 32 minutes as he accidentally turned a Martial cross towards his own net but his blushes were spared as the ball drifted the wrong side of the post.United had won their previous three Premier League home games by a 1-0 scoreline but always looked capable of finding further breakthroughs and it came on 56 minutes.A corner could only be cleared out to Darmian and under little pressure from the Palace defence, he controlled the ball and rocketed a thunderous half-volley into the net via the far post, scoring his first United goal in spectacular fashion. Alan Pardew admits his side may have had one eye on their FA Cup semi-final clash with Watford after losing 2-0 to Manchester United Rooney was searching for his 100th Premier League goal at Old Trafford for Manchester United and the closest he came to getting it was on the hour mark but his side-footed effort from 20 yards was blocked away by Pape Souare two yards from his goal-line. Speroni saved a Rashford effort just before the striker was substituted to a standing ovation on 63 minutes as United saw the game out very comfortably. Uniteds sixth successive Premier League win at Old Trafford puts pressure on Arsenal as they prepare to face West Brom, live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Thursday.Player RatingsManchester United: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Smalling (7), Blind (7), Darmian (8), Lingard (7), Schneiderlin (7), Mata (7), Rooney (8), Martial (7), Rashford (7)Subs: Fellaini (6), Herrera (6), Memphis (6)Crystal Palace: Speroni (7), Kelly (5), Mariappa (6), Delaney (4), Souare (6); Jedinak (5), Cabaye (6), Lee (6); Zaha (7), Adebayor (5), Sako (4)Subs: Mutch (6), McArthur (6), Wickham (6)Man of the match: Matteo Darmian Cheap Mike Piazza Jersey . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. http://www.cheapdodgersjerseys.com/ . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Authentic . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Cheap Babe Herman Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. SAN DIEGO -- Fighting for a postseason berth, Jeff Samardzija and the San Francisco Giants finally figured out the pesky San Diego Padres.Angel Pagans single broke a scoreless tie in the eighth and Samardzija struck out nine in seven innings for the Giants, who beat the Padres 2-1 on Thursday night to keep pace with the New York Mets for the NL wild card lead.The Mets and Giants took a half-game lead over the idle St. Louis Cardinals in the wild card race. New York beat Philadelphia 9-8 in 11 innings.San Francisco continues to trail Los Angeles by six games in the NL West, but the Dodgers reduced their magic number to four by beating Colorado 7-4.The Giants faced a Padres lineup that included five rookies, three making their big league debut. The Giants snapped a six-game losing streak to the Padres, who have been their nemesis during their second-half skid. The Padres swept the Giants at San Francisco last week and in San Diego in the first series after the All-Star break. The Giants had swept the Padres three times in the first two months of the season.Samardzija joined the Giants as a free agent so he could pitch in games like this.Its great, thats why I signed up to come over here and play, was to be playing in September, important games in September, he said. Thats why we play this game, to compete at the highest level, and with the most on the line.I tried to hang in there in the game long enough and then we squeaked on through there in the eighth. It was a nice way to end it.Samardzija (12-10) allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings, and walked none.Hes a horse, manager Bruce Bochy said. Thats obviously part of the deal, what intrigued us about him, his stuff and how strong he is. Hes really good, throwing the ball well right now, all his pitches locating. Gave us what we needed.Joe Panik, who had been in an 0-for-24 slump, doubled to right-center opening the eighth against Christian Friedrich (5-11). His fly ball ticked off the end of rookie Hunter Renfroes glove, hit the ground and bounced over the fence. Kelby Tomlinson, pinch-hitting for Samardzija, singled to left to put runners on the corners and chase Friedrich. Brad Hand came on and induced Eduardo Nunez to hit into a force, with Panik holding at third. Pagan then hit a blooper that landed just fair and brought in Panik.ddddddddddddRenfroe fielded Paniks blooper and made a strong throw, but first baseman Wil Myers cut it off.Since there was no other play there, Wil probably wants to let that ball go, manager Andy Green said. I think hed say that right now. I dont think were accustomed to Hunter Renfroes arm yet. That is a very unique play to see a ball drop on the line like that and see a guy coming up firing like that. I dont know how far up the line it was going to be to Hedgy (Austin Hedges), but I thought it was going to be close enough to be an interesting play at the plate. ... Theres some arm strength there.Hunter Pence doubled with two outs to bring in Nunez.Padres pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson homered off Derek Law with one out in the eighth.Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his second save in as many chances. Schimpf doubled with one out before Renfroe popped up to first base and fellow rookie Carlos Asuaje grounded to short to end it.Padres outfielders Renfroe and Manual Margot, and second baseman Asuaje were making their first big league starts.Renfroe, Margot, Asuaje and Hedges were called up Wednesday from Triple-A El Paso. Renfroe and Asuaje made their big league debuts as pinch-hitters on Wednesday night while Margot made his as a pinch-runner. Hedges made his big league debut last year.Renfroe singled to left for his first career hit in the second and then singled to center in the fifth.Padres reliever Jose Torres made his big league debut when he started the ninth.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: Bochy said RHP Johnny Cueto, who was forced out of his start Tuesday night with a strained groin, is improving and will try to throw on Friday. ... Bochy said SS Brandon Crawfords dislocated pinky on his glove hand was doing a lot better. Yesterday he had a tough day. It was really sore. Hes throwing to keep in shape.Padres: Green said RHP Colin Rea has begun throwing. Hes been shut down with an elbow injury.UP NEXTGiants: Rookie RHP Albert Suarez (3-4, 4.16) is scheduled to start Friday night.Padres: RHP Edwin Jackson (4-6, 6.00) gets the start Friday night. ' ' '