John Lundstram scores second half winner as Sheffield United beat Palace to win their first Premier League game

Sheffield United 1-0 Crystal Palace

Scorers- Lundstram (47′)

Bramall Lane, 2 pm kick-off – Attendance – 30,197

Midfielder John Lundstram who was playing in League One for Oxford United back in 2017 gave Sheffield United their first Premier League win of the season making use of a loose ball to hand his side three points against a very lacklustre Crystal Palace.

Chris Wilder named an unchanged XI for the Blades first home match in the Premier League since 2007, despite club captain Billy Sharp scoring a late equaliser against Bournemouth.

Roy Hodgson made one change which meant that star player and fan favourite Wilfried Zaha replaced striker Jordan Ayew in the team.

The first chance in the game fell to Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke who used his strength to get through on goal in the fifth minute, however, this caused Dean Henderson in the Sheffield United net to pull off a comfortable save.

Chris Wilder’s men started the match with real confidence and caused a lot of trouble in the opening 15 minutes of the match as the physical presence of the back-line from corners caused arguments between the Eagles back-four.

While Roy Hodgson side were creating chances they weren’t of any particular quality in the first 20 minutes with Henderson or his back-line dealing with the Eagles advances on goal.

United tactics were proving a great worry to Hodgson’s men as a corner caused chaos with centre-back Jack O’Connell having a chance blocked as the hosts looked for the first goal of the match.

John Fleck’s game came to an end when he went off in the 29th minute with an injury which meant summer signing Luke Freeman came on for his Premier League debut.

The hosts played a really conservative game allowing Palace to get forward, the Blades won the ball back on the counter-attack almost every time bursting forward however they’re chances were broke down or was dealt with by the Eagles back-line.

Three minutes before added time Vicente Guaita was called into a point-blank save to deny 15-time goal-scorer, David McGoldrick, as the attacker found himself with a chance five yards out however the Irishman could only get his shin on the ball.

Two minutes into the second half John Lundstram put the hosts ahead after Sheffield United’s overlapping centre-back Jack O’Connell played a major part in the attack, dragging away the centre back which in turn allowed Freeman to peel away into the box and get a shot off. That shot was saved by Palace’s number one however the ball spilled out just missing Callum Robinson but allowed Lundstram to bury the ball giving the northern side the lead, in doing so he has scored in all four divisions of the English Football League.

Another injury for last season’s second-placed Championship side meant that Robinson had to leave the pitch with a hamstring problem allowing club-record signing Oli McBurnie to come on in front of the home fans.

O’Connell gave Palace a fright after the ball was whipped in following a corner and he found himself free at the far post, however, his header was saved and went out for a corner.

Sheffield United’s hunger to win the ball back meant that a couple of nasty challenges were flying in and this wasn’t taken particularly well in the 74th minute as Palace. Substitute James McCarthy, who has an injury history was caught by right wing-back George Baldock a brawl between the two broke out and resulted in a yellow for both players.

Phil Jagielka came on late to a roar of cheers as the former player made his second debut for the club just over 18 years after featuring for the Blades for the first time against Swindon Town back in May 2000.

The hosts were able to hold onto the lead throwing a body at the ball every time Palace got forward which ensured that they would move up to seventh in the league, while also continuing their unbeaten run.

Line-ups-

Sheffield United- (3-5-2) – Henderson; O’Connell; Basham; Egan; Baldock YC; Stevens; Fleck (OFF 29′); Lundstram; Norwood; Robinson (OFF 29′) and McGoldrick (OFF 89′.)

Subs Used- Freeman 85′ (29′ ON); McBurnie (56′ ON) and Jagielka (89′ ON.)

Unused Subs- Moore; Osborn; Besic and Sharp.

Crystal Palace- (4-4-2) Guaita; Ward; Dann; Kelly; Van Aanholt; Townsend (OFF 70′); Milivojevic; McArthur (OFF 82′); Meyer (OFF 65′); Zaha and Benteke.

Subs Used- Schlupp (65′ ON); McCarthy  (70′ ON) and Wickham (82′ ON).

Unused Subs- Hennessey; Cahill; Kouyate and Ayew

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