ROMELU LUKAKU was on the mark yet again as Manchester United moved back to the top with another convincing win.
But it was yet another blank day for Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace - who have now gone seven games without a goal or point.
The Eagles put up some first half resistance across town at the Etihad a week ago before caving in and conceding five.
But they were behind inside four minutes here as Marcus Rashford tormented Joel Ward down the left flank.
His low cross was swept home by Juan Mata - who marked his 200th Premier League game with a goal.
The Eagles could have replied as Yohan Cabaye floated over a free-kick that was nodded over by Mamadou Sakho.
And soon afterwards David de Gea had to beat away a goalbound effort from Bacary Sako.
But just after the half hour the game was over as a contest as Ashley Young's inswinging cross from the left was touched in by Marouane Fellaini.
That's another goal for the Belgian who has impressed since stepping in for the injured Paul Pogba.
Chris Smalling nodded the wrong side of the post right on half-time but it didn't prove to be costly.
Less than five minutes after the re-start, Rashford whipped over a free-kick which was met by the slightest touch from Fellaini's head for his second of the game.
Romelu Lukaku then made it worse for the South Londoners as he hit the target with a clinical finish five minutes from time, leaving Jose Mourinho with another win and Palace with another resounding defeat.
INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Man Utd haven’t lost to Crystal Palace in the Premier League for 17 games now
- Palace’s last league victory over United came in May 1991
- Palace’s last win against the Red Devils came in the League Cup in November 2011
- United have now won 11 consecutive home league matches against Palace, conceding just two goals
- Palace are the first side in England’s top four tiers to lose their first seven games of the season without scoring a single goal
- The Eagles are also the only team in Europe’s top five leagues to not find the back of the net
Man Utd Transfer News
WHAT THEY SAID
Man Utd goalscorer Marouane Fellaini: “We controlled the game. That’s important. The confidence is there.
“In two weeks we have a big game against Liverpool. We have to go away with the national teams and have to come back fit.”
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho: “We started strong and we finished strong. We rotated. We won and that’s the most important thing.
“I always trusted Marouane since day one and try to give him confidence and show him how useful he is for the team.”
Crystal Palace Transfer News
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Man Utd: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Smalling 7, Jones 7, Young 8, Matic 7, Fellaini 9, Mata 7 (Herrera 6), Mkhitaryan 6 (Lingard 6), Rashford 8 (Martial 6), Lukaku 8
Subs not used: Bailly, Blind, Romero, Darmian
Goals: Mata 3’, Fellaini 35’ 49’, Lukaku 86’
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Ward 6, Sakho 5, Delaney 6, Van Aanholt 4, Milivojevic 6, Cabaye 5, Townsend 6, Puncheon 5 (Riedewald 6), Schlupp 5 (McArthur 6), Sako 5 (Ladapo 5)
Subs: Speroni, Chung-Yong, Mutch, Kelly
Star Man: Marouane Fellaini