Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Palace could take another step towards Manchester United’s unwanted record, Huddersfield should go for it against Spurs and a west London game to savour
After six league games, six defeats and still no goals, Old Trafford would be very close to bottom of the list of ideal destinations for Crystal Palace, but it may be a fine place to find some sympathy. After all, as nonagenarian United fans might recall, their team’s start to the 1930-31 season remains the most disastrous in Football League history. They were wildly unfortunate to lose their opening game to the champions Aston Villa – Joe Spence suffered a twisted knee and Tom Jones cracked a collar-bone, leaving United playing for a draw with nine and a half men (Jones gamely tried to carry on as best he could). With a minute and a half to play, Jack Wilson passed back to Alf Steward, the United goalkeeper, who inexplicably dropped the ball and Tom Waring capitalised to grab the winner. “The pass was made with complete accuracy,” we reported, “but Steward fumbled the ball and the insatiable Waring dashed in to dash out the Manchester hopes.” Eleven straight defeats followed – they shipped four to Manchester City and Portsmouth, five against West Ham, six against Chelsea and Huddersfield and seven against Newcastle before finally beating Birmingham on 1 November. Palace are only halfway to matching United’s miserable run but with a visit from Chelsea to follow Saturday’s game, United’s 87-year-old unwanted record could be under genuine threat. SB
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