Sheffield United 0-1 Crystal Palace
by Harry De Cosemo
at Bramall Lane

CRYSTAL PALACE spoiled Sheffield United’s Premier League return party after Odsonne Edouard’s second-half strike secured victory at Bramall Lane.

Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom is hoping to add more players to his squad after a difficult summer which has seen the exits of star men Sander Berge and Iliman N’Diaye.

 “We’ve sold players so we have got the money to spend to bring players in,” Heckingbottom said.

“I can’t be critical, I think we needed the first goal if I am honest. We compromised the way we wanted to play with the difference in the team. But I felt by being disruptive and aggressive, we had an impact on the game, especially in the second half.

“To concede the first goal so early in the second half made it difficult. These are a well-established team, they have experience, they have some real quality. I have not come away from there scared and the players shouldn’t either.”

The hosts were pumped up for their first Premier League home game in two years, feeding off the electricity of the crowd. They started well, pinning Palace back and linking well in the opening minutes.

But their best chance came when Will Osula saw a curling shot deflected, before the visitors settled and began to assert themselves.

Eberechi Eze was a constant threat, picking up pockets of space in dangerous areas. It felt like a matter of time before he punished Sheffield United, but Palace’s finishing, particularly that of Edouard, was tame in the first half.

Jordan Ayew thought he’d put them in front on 25 minutes, heading in after Wes Foderingham parried a stinging effort from Joachim Andersen. But he was stood in an offside position.

It took just four minutes of second-half action for Palace to break the deadlock. The Blades had looked organised but not impenetrable, and Edouard finally breached their defence with a close-range finish from an Ayewa cross.

The French striker was narrowly offside when he thought he’d doubled Palace’s tally with 20 minutes remaining. But they looked well in control having gone ahead and there was a concerning lack of response in an attacking sense from Sheffield United.

Edouard again got in behind as the visitors continually looked to put the game to bed, but  his attempt to square it was loose and cleared.

At the other end, Osula thought he had levelled with a rare opportunity, but his effort narrowly missed the target, clipping the outside of the post.

Andersen’s goal-bound header was denied by a smart Foderingham save, but in truth Palace eased to the victory without looking particularly impressive themselves, which will be a concern for the watching Blades fans.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson says he needs creativity in his side if they are to continue in an upward trajectory. 

Wilfried Zaha has departed for Galatasaray and Michael Olise missed the game through injury.

“We need people like Michael [Olise] back if we are to continue being as good as we were last year and further reinforcements to make certain the players out on the field today know there are people pushing for their places,” he said.