Sheff Utd 0 Crystal Palace 1
Sometimes, going to a newly promoted side in the opening game can be one of the most difficult fixtures to get drawn on the opening weekend. It nearly started so well for Sheff Utd as Traore found Osula, he stepped inside onto his left foot and tried to bend one into the bottom corner, narrowly missing the far post with the keeper beaten.
Eberechi Eze will have to fill the hole left by the departure of Wilfried Zaha this season and he started well in this game. Running at the Sheff Utd defence, he fed the ball to Edouard who tried to shake off two defenders to get his shot away but it was blocked at the expense of a corner.
Anderson shot from distance and keeper Foderingham failed to deal with it as he palmed it back out, only for Jordan Ayew to head the ball home before a belated linesman’s flag was raised to save the hosts.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side continued to try and press the visitors and a shot from Oliver Norwood, from some distance out, was the first action for Sam Johnstone in the Palace goal. The visitors were defending well and keeping Sheff Utd at bay for the majority of the half.
Credit: @CPFC
No sooner had the second half started, Ayew was twisting and turning out on the right, causing all sorts of problems for Robinson. He got to the byline and whipped a dangerous ball into the box that was turned in by Edouard, silencing the home faithful.
As the hosts tried to find an equaliser, Lowe was keen to get the ball back when it went out for a throw in, much to the amusement of all. The player seemed to hit Roy Hodgson in the stomach as he reached to grab the ball back which infuriated the Palace manager.
The 76-year-old Hodgson squared up to the Sheff Utd player, fancying his chances despite the 50-year age gap. Comedy gold. If only more people of his generation had such fire in them, we would no doubt see a lot less scam artists fleecing the doors of the elderly.
Palace put a great team move together as Schlupp found Eze, who slotted it out wide to Mitchell, then playing a teasing pass across to the back post where it was knocked into the net by Edouard. It was a fantastic goal but sadly the assistant referee immediately raised his flag.
The replays showed that Edouard had just made his move a little early and it was a good decision. Summer signing Lerma had a great game for the visitors and controlled the midfield throughout, showing what a fantastic acquisition he could be on a free this season. Bournemouth’s loss is Crystal Palace’s gain on this one.
It was Lerma who played the ball into the brilliant Eze, who in turn found the run of Schlupp but Foderingham made a smart save to deny the visitors another great team goal. Hodgson will be pleased with the build up play his side showed on numerous occasions.
Credit: @CPFC
The Sheff Utd keeper knocked a long ball to Traore, who did well to spot the near-post run of Osula, but the striker could only find the side-netting when half the ground had thought it was in. That was the closest the newly-promoted side came to an equaliser.
Eze whipped a late in-swinging free-kick into the box which was met brilliantly by the head of Anderson but Foderingham made a world-class save to deny Palace a second goal. The visitors took all of the points but Sheff Utd will know that if they continue playing like they did today, they will pick up points in this league.
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