Crystal Palace 3 Sheff Utd 2
Roy Hodgson was pleased to have Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew back as they welcomed bottom of the table Sheff Utd to Selhurst Park. While Chris Wilder’s side are ten points away from safety, Palace are being dragged into a relegation battle they do not want.
The visitors made the perfect start as Ben Brereton Diaz cut in from the left flank and bent one into the far corner to give The Blades the lead after only 25 seconds. Just the start Wilder would have wanted to see but it seemed a long time to try and hold on to that lead.
The Eagles started to knock the ball around and worked it to Olise out wide. He looked up and lifted a ball into the box which Eze got on the end of to knock the ball into the net. If Roy Hodgson can keep these two players fit, you cannot see them getting relegated.
Sheff Utd didn’t seem to be reading the script however. As the ball was played up to McBurnie, he managed to use his physical nature to hold the ball up. He played it to McAtee who had nothing on his mind but that Palace goal.
Credit: @CPFC
His shot took a huge deflection off Guehi and wrong-footed Henderson who was rooted to the spot as the ball looped into the net. The player on-loan from Man City was making a real impact at Bramall Lane and he could not have scored a more timely goal.
Crystal Palace came forward and their two stars combined once again. Olise and Eze just know each other’s games inside out. The former played it to the latter and he dropped his shoulder to work it onto his left foot. He then struck a stunning shot that no keeper was ever going to save.
Bending the ball from outside the post into the top corner, with the keeper at full stretch but not able to get anywhere near it. The new signing was going to have a debut that went from bad to worse. As he came out to get the ball, he was clattered by Mateta.
The Palace striker did not commit a foul but as the two came together, Grbic took a whack to the head. Sheff Utd did concussion tests and decided that the keeper was not fit to continue despite him pleading with staff to let him stay on the pitch.
Foderingham’s first real action of the afternoon was to pick the ball out of the back of the net. As Palace came forward the ball was kind of half-cleared, dropping to Olise outside the box. The winger struck it first time, rifling it into the bottom corner with the keeper not able to get a glove on it.
The visitors almost grabbed a late equaliser as Larouci looked to shoot and it was flicked on by Ahmedhodzic before the ball came thundering back off the crossbar. So close for The Blades but it was not to be.
Credit: @CPFC
Hodgson’s side held on for the three points which takes them six clear of the final relegation spot. Palace really could not have asked for a more crucial time to have Olise and Eze back and firing on all cylinders. They really could be the club’s saviours this season.
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