Eze scores twice as Palace beat Sheffield United
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
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
Crystal Palace
Squad number10Player nameEze
Average rating7.96
Squad number7Player nameOlise
Average rating7.90
Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
Average rating6.72
Squad number52Player nameOzoh
Average rating6.71
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Average rating6.41
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Average rating6.32
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Average rating6.26
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Average rating6.20
Squad number19Player nameHughes
Average rating6.15
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Average rating6.11
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Average rating6.06
Squad number30Player nameHenderson
Average rating5.90
Squad number26Player nameRichards
Average rating5.81
Squad number8Player nameLerma
Average rating5.80
Sheffield United
Squad number11Player nameBrereton
Average rating6.50
Squad number28Player nameMcAtee
Average rating6.43
Squad number35Player nameBrooks
Average rating6.03
Squad number8Player nameHamer
Average rating5.97
Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
Average rating5.94
Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
Average rating5.66
Squad number33Player nameNorrington-Davies
Average rating5.54
Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
Average rating5.54
Squad number5Player nameTrusty
Average rating5.41
Squad number27Player nameLarouci
Average rating5.36
Squad number32Player nameOsula
Average rating5.30
Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane
Average rating5.28
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Average rating5.27
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Average rating5.21
Squad number10Player nameArcher
Average rating5.19
Squad number13Player nameGrbic
Average rating5.18
Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
Average rating5.14
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
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Crystal Palace 3, Sheffield United 2.