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Eze scores twice as Palace beat Sheffield United

Eze scores twice as Palace beat Sheffield United
Michael Olise scores the winning goal on his return from injury as Crystal Palace come from behind twice to secure a vital win over Sheffield United in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.
Eberechi Eze scores his first goal for Crystal Palace against Sheffield United at Selhurst Park

Michael Olise scored the winning goal on his return from injury as Crystal Palace came from behind twice to secure a vital win over Sheffield United in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.

It was a less than ideal start for Palace as Sheffield United took the lead after only 20 seconds when Ben Brereton Diaz was set behind the defence by Gustavo Hamer and curled into the bottom corner past Dean Henderson.

Palace responded in the 17th minute when Eberechi Eze poked in Michael Olise's chipped cross before James McAtee's deflected shot restored the visitors' lead in the 20th minute.

It then took a moment of magic from Eze to draw Palace level for the second time in the first half. He picked up the ball from Olise before firing a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The excellent Olise struck the winning goal for Palace in the 67th minute. Jean-Philippe Mateta's attempted cross was blocked but only straight into Olise's path - his curling effort struck the inside of the post before going in to give Palace all three points.

Chris Wilder's side nearly levelled the match late on but Anel Ahmedhodzic's header cannoned back off the Palace crossbar from close range to leave the Blades rooted to the foot of the table.

Olise and Eze shining lights for Palace

Michael Olise scores for Crystal Palace against Sheffield United at Selhurst Park

Both teams came into this match with equally poor runs of form and each had only won once in their previous 10 league games.

Sheffield United have picked up form under Wilder and earned five points since he was reappointed, but their positive start was not rewarded in this game.

The victory gives Palace manager Roy Hodgson a huge boost after coming under pressure in recent weeks for his side's poor form, with supporters displaying a banner during the 5-0 loss at Arsenal to show their discontent.

He was able to name Olise and Eze in his team for just the seventh time this season due to injury and their quality shone through.

Even when the Eagles went behind, Olise's dribbling and crossing ability caused the Blades problems, and his winning goal - his third in his last three Premier League games - ultimately peeled Palace away from trouble at the bottom of the table.

Olise's presence seemed to free up Eze, who can be doubled up on by the opposition as Palace's main outlet in possession.

The England international showed he could be nearing his best again. His second goal, created from not much of an opportunity, was a superb piece of play and may serve as a reminder to Gareth Southgate as he considers his England squad for the fixtures in March.

However, both Olise and Eze had to go off after receiving treatment and Hodgson will be hoping he hasn't lost either of his key men for a long period of time again.

Player of the match

EzeEberechi Eze

with an average of 7.96

Crystal Palace

  1. Squad number10Player nameEze

    Average rating

    7.96

  2. Squad number7Player nameOlise

    Average rating

    7.90

  3. Squad number22Player nameÉdouard

    Average rating

    6.72

  4. Squad number52Player nameOzoh

    Average rating

    6.71

  5. Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

    Average rating

    6.41

  6. Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

    Average rating

    6.32

  7. Squad number14Player nameMateta

    Average rating

    6.26

  8. Squad number3Player nameMitchell

    Average rating

    6.20

  9. Squad number19Player nameHughes

    Average rating

    6.15

  10. Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

    Average rating

    6.11

  11. Squad number16Player nameAndersen

    Average rating

    6.06

  12. Squad number30Player nameHenderson

    Average rating

    5.90

  13. Squad number26Player nameRichards

    Average rating

    5.81

  14. Squad number8Player nameLerma

    Average rating

    5.80

Sheffield United

  1. Squad number11Player nameBrereton

    Average rating

    6.50

  2. Squad number28Player nameMcAtee

    Average rating

    6.43

  3. Squad number35Player nameBrooks

    Average rating

    6.03

  4. Squad number8Player nameHamer

    Average rating

    5.97

  5. Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie

    Average rating

    5.94

  6. Squad number18Player nameFoderingham

    Average rating

    5.66

  7. Squad number33Player nameNorrington-Davies

    Average rating

    5.54

  8. Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza

    Average rating

    5.54

  9. Squad number5Player nameTrusty

    Average rating

    5.41

  10. Squad number27Player nameLarouci

    Average rating

    5.36

  11. Squad number32Player nameOsula

    Average rating

    5.30

  12. Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane

    Average rating

    5.28

  13. Squad number19Player nameRobinson

    Average rating

    5.27

  14. Squad number20Player nameBogle

    Average rating

    5.21

  15. Squad number10Player nameArcher

    Average rating

    5.19

  16. Squad number13Player nameGrbic

    Average rating

    5.18

  17. Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic

    Average rating

    5.14

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

30Henderson

26Richards16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell

8Lerma19Hughes10Eze

7Olise14Mateta9J Ayew

  • 30Henderson
  • 26Richards
  • 16Andersen
  • 6Guéhi
  • 3Mitchell
  • 8LermaBooked at 90mins
  • 19Hughes
  • 10EzeSubstituted forOzohat 78'minutes
  • 7OliseSubstituted forSchluppat 70'minutes
  • 14MatetaSubstituted forÉdouardat 90+1'minutes
  • 9J Ayew

Substitutes

  • 1Johnstone
  • 5Tomkins
  • 11França de Oliveira
  • 15Schlupp
  • 17Clyne
  • 22Édouard
  • 29Ahamada
  • 44Riedewald
  • 52Ozoh

Sheff Utd

Formation 4-1-4-1

13Grbic

20Bogle15Ahmedhodzic19Robinson5Trusty

21de Souza Costa

28McAtee8Hamer25Ben Slimane11Brereton

9McBurnie

  • 13GrbicSubstituted forFoderinghamat 52'minutes
  • 20Bogle
  • 15AhmedhodzicBooked at 90mins
  • 19RobinsonBooked at 42minsSubstituted forLarouciat 82'minutes
  • 5TrustyBooked at 40mins
  • 21de Souza Costa
  • 28McAtee
  • 8HamerSubstituted forArcherat 87'minutes
  • 25Ben SlimaneSubstituted forNorrington-Daviesat 45'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 11BreretonSubstituted forBrooksat 45'minutes
  • 9McBurnieSubstituted forOsulaat 64'minutes

Substitutes

  • 10Archer
  • 16Norwood
  • 18Foderingham
  • 23Osborn
  • 27Larouci
  • 32Osula
  • 33Norrington-Davies
  • 35Brooks
  • 38Seriki
Referee: Tony Harrington

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Crystal Palace 3, Sheffield United 2.

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