As it happened: Crystal Palace 2-0 Sheffield United

Much needed three points for Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace after harrowing defeats to Liverpool & Aston Villa. 

As for Sheffield United. the Premier League is an unforgiving place.  

Hackford nearly pulled one back! But his effort was thwarted by Ward. 

Ramsdale drops the ball under pressure from a Palace corner, he gathers the ball at the second time of asking. 

A nice touch for Chris Wilder to bring on 16-year-old Antwoine Hackford. 

Townsend drags a shot wide! Palace looking to kill the game off. 

Palace - 11 

Sheffield United - 8

Palace corner met by Kouyate who sends the ball back into the box, but fails to find a red & blue shirt. 

Eze booked for a foul on Ampadu. 

Norwood booked for tripping Ayew. 

On comes Brewster for Mousset. 

Zaha moving gingerly after a collision with Basham. 

Townsend clips a ball into the back post, Zaha nods down to Ayew, but failed to kepp hold of the ball. 

Palace forced into another change. Benteke's dead leg forces him off to be replaced by Ayew. 

Benteke is down. Perhaps he has tweaked a muscle. 

Palace get us underway for the second half at Selhurst Park. 

 

A dagger to the heart for Sheffield United. They were growing in confidence prior to Eze's goal. 

A big 45 coming up for Wilders' side. 

He danced his way thorugh the Blades' defence and picked his spot to double Palace's lead! 

That was outrageous!

Jayden Bogle booked for scything down Wilfried Zaha.

Clever ball from Ampadu to find McGoldrick, but he failed to squeez the ball past Guaita.

The goal scorer has pulled up. Schlupp is coming off for Eze. 

Benteke fouled by McGoldrick on the half way line. 

This certainly isn't a game for the football purist, but Roy Hodgson will not mind!

Benteke goes close! Touches the ball inches wide from a Zaha cut back. 

Palace looks thretening on every attack, but will need to put a chance away soon to assert their authority. 

McGoldrick sends a ball to the back post, but failed to find Basham. 

Zaha causing havoc and wins Palace a freekick on the edge of the area. 

Tomkins heads the ball back into the box, but fails to find the on-rushing Benteke. 

 

Not much has happened after the goal. United trying to breach Palace's left side, however, Tyrick Mitchell is standing firm. 

Mousset wins a corner for The Blades, but Benteke heads clear. 

Townsend shoots from distance but it ends up in the hands of Ramsdale. 

Wilders' side are trying to break through the resolute Palace side. However, Palace are standing strong and are dangerous on the counter. 

 

A dreadful start from The Blades!

Zaha burst past John Egan, finds Benteke who flicks the ball onto Schlupp inside the area. 

Schlupp then drills the ball past Ramsdale!

The perfect start for Palace. 

Stuart Attwell gets us underway at Selhurst Park!

Both sides are making their way out onto the Selhurst Park pitch. 

Can The dilapidated Blades' squad pick up their first win of the season? 

Can Palace start to pick up where they left off prior to being torn apart by Liverpool. 

 

 

 

 

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On signings: “From my point of view and from the recruitment team’s point of view it’s at a level above now. It’s over to the Chief Executive & the board to hopefully get them over the line.”

On Chris Basham “I can’t speak highly enough of Bash as a player and a person. He’s a modern day manager’s dream. He’ll do whatever needs to be done to help this football club. His performances have been brilliant right the way through the journey.”

Boosted team confidence: 

"We all know football matches either boost confidence or reduce it," he said. "If you get a heavy defeat it doesn’t do your confidence any good irrespective of how justified the result was.

"It’s part and parcel of football and one of the most important qualities a footballer can have is understanding there will be good days and bad days and you have to deal with both."

On Sheffield United: 

"I certainly remember the two defeats at the hands of a Sheffield United team last year that were sweeping all before them. What has surprised me is I see the same Sheffield United team [this year] that I saw last year.

"That is one of the anomalies of football: one year a group of players playing the football they play can enjoy the success Sheffield United have and this year of course they’re rooted to the bottom of the table having been able to manage two points.

"As far as I’m concerned we’re facing a team who are very difficult to beat. We’re much more used to going into a game as underdogs… they have every bit as much of a chance, Sheffield United, of winning the game."

Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Fleck, Ampadu, Stevens; Burke, Mousset, Brewster. 

Guaita; Clyne, Kouyate, Tomkins, Van Aanholt; Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Eze; Zaha, Benteke.

The Blades, although not confirmed, are thought to have Billy Sharp and Phil Jagielka absent due to testing positive for Covid-19. 

Palace target, John Lundstram, will serve the last game of his three match ban. 

Gary Cahill is suffering from a hamstring tweak, and long-term absentees, Connor Wickham, Martin Kelly, Nathan Ferguson and Wayne Hennessey, all remain sidelined.  

For Chris Wilder and Sheffield United, it has been a harrowing start to their second season in the Premier League, with The Blades staring down the barrel of the relegation gun, bar some miracle. 
Yet to pick up a win in the 2020/21 season, they will see this as the perfect opportunity to manifest the great escape. 

For Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace, they stemmed the bleeding last week against Leicester City, after two humiliating defeats against Liverpool and Aston Villa. 

However, the Eagles will want to pick up points in what could be Hodgson's last season in charge of the south Londoners. 

Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United will be played at Selhurst Park; London, England.

The kick-off is scheduled at 15:00 GMT.

Welcome to VAVEL UK's LIVE coverage of the 2020/21 Premier League match: Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United!

My name is Edmund Brack and I'll be your host for this game.  

We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.com.