2 years ago
31
ARTICLE AD BOX
Odsonne Edouard's opener was his third goal in 24 league games for PalaceOdsonne Edouard spoiled Sheffield United's return to the Premier League to give Crystal Palace a winning start to life after Wilfried Zaha.
This season is the first since 2013-14 where the Eagles will be without Zaha after their talismanic forward's departure in the summer.
But Edouard turned in Jordan Ayew's cross just after half-time.
And although debutant William Osula went close for United, Palace had chances to make the win more emphatic.
The goal came when Jordan Ayew ran at Ben Osborn on Palace's right wing before delivering a low cross for Edouard to tap in from close range.
The French striker, 25, should have claimed a second when he sent a tame header straight at Wes Foderingham, who also denied Ayew and Joachim Andersen late on.
But the Eagles had done enough to give Roy Hodgson, who celebrated his 76th birthday three days ago, a winning start to his 41st season as a manager - and his 1,242nd game as boss.
- Follow live text commentary on all of Saturday's Premier League games
- How did you rate Sheff Utd's performance? Have your say here
- What did you make of Crystal Palace's display? Send us your views here
Since finishing last season as Championship runners-up, United have sold two key players and been struck by a spate of injuries.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom started two 20-year-old forwards - Osula and summer signing Benie Traore - and the former almost made a dream start to his full United debut as his curling shot deflected narrowly wide.
But otherwise Palace, who kept Hodgson at the helm after the veteran boss came in to steady the ship last season, dominated for most of the contest.
Ayew had a goal disallowed for offside while Edouard and Cheick Doucoure tested Foderingham, before Edouard made the breakthrough.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Sheffield United
Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
Squad number12Player nameEgan
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Squad number2Player nameBaldock
Squad number6Player nameBasham
Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Squad number23Player nameOsborn
Squad number3Player nameLowe
Squad number11Player nameTraoré
Squad number32Player nameOsula
Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane
Squad number27Player nameLarouci
Squad number35Player nameBrooks
Squad number39Player nameHackford
Crystal Palace
Squad number1Player nameJohnstone
Squad number2Player nameWard
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number8Player nameLerma
Squad number28Player nameDoucouré
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number10Player nameEze
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
Squad number5Player nameTomkins
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 18Foderingham
- 15AhmedhodzicBooked at 57mins
- 12Egan
- 19RobinsonSubstituted forBen Slimaneat 80'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 2Baldock
- 6BashamSubstituted forde Souza Costaat 80'minutes
- 16Norwood
- 23OsbornSubstituted forBrooksat 87'minutes
- 3LoweSubstituted forLarouciat 80'minutes
- 11TraoréSubstituted forHackfordat 87'minutes
- 32OsulaBooked at 16mins
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 5Trusty
- 21de Souza Costa
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 34Marsh
- 35Brooks
- 38Seriki
- 39Hackford
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Johnstone
- 2Ward
- 16Andersen
- 6GuéhiSubstituted forTomkinsat 90+2'minutes
- 3Mitchell
- 8Lerma
- 28Doucouré
- 9J Ayew
- 10Eze
- 15Schlupp
- 22Édouard
Substitutes
- 5Tomkins
- 14Mateta
- 17Clyne
- 26Richards
- 29Ahamada
- 31Matthews
- 37Gordon
- 44Riedewald
- 49Rak-Sakyi
Referee:John Brooks
Attendance:31,194
Live Text
Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Crystal Palace 1.
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Crystal Palace 1.
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).
George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace).
Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James Tomkins replaces Marc Guéhi because of an injury.
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Antwoine Hackford replaces Bénie Traoré.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Andre Brooks replaces Ben Osborn.
Attempt saved. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eberechi Eze with a cross.
Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United).
Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Attempt missed. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Ayew.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Yasser Larouci replaces Max Lowe.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US) ·