Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
Bramall Lane.
Match report and free highlights as Christian Benteke strikes after just 66 seconds; Eberechi Eze scores late second; victory guarantees Palace eighth successive season in Premier League
Saturday 8 May 2021 18:41, UK
Crystal Palace rubberstamped Premier League survival and ended a winless run of five games with a 2-0 victory at Sheffield United.
Christian Benteke's deflected shot after just 66 seconds had looked set to be decisive, even though it belied Palace's dominance against a long-beaten side who failed to muster an effort on target.
Benteke had been denied from close-range by a fine first-half Aaron Ramsdale save, before drilling against a post after the break, but a belated second finally came through the impressive Eberechi Eze (88) as the Eagles eased past the 40-point mark and made sure of an eighth successive season in the top flight.
Sheffield United, whose own relegation was followed in the day earlier by that of rivals Sheffield Wednesday from the Championship - the city's first double drop in the same season - never truly threatened to punish Palace's profligacy as they recorded a 28th league defeat of a tortuous season.
Sheffield United had edged Roy Hodgson's side at Bramall Lane on the opening day of last season, a result that provided crucial early momentum, but another leaden display was a reminder of their striking slump.
Hodgson had urged his players to "take risks" against the basement side with their position all-but mathematically secure and they were ahead with a little over a minute on the clock.
Eze sidestepped Kean Bryan and then John Egan, before teeing up Benteke for a first-time finish that clipped Baldock to wrong-foot Ramsdale.
The former QPR player had been allowed to swagger through unopposed when the sides had met back in January and he was full of elegant movement here again as home shirts backed off in the pouring rain.
He drilled one free-kick chance into a Blades wall, before Luka Milivojevic went close from another set-piece, his fierce drive taking another deflection but this time into Ramsdale's gloves.
The hosts had offered only fleeting threat through a series of long diagonals but, as so often this term, the final ball remained elusive, David McGoldrick and Oliver Burke sending weak headers wide.
Tyrick Mitchell might have felt fortunate when Sander Berge stayed upright under his close attention in the penalty box, Paul Heckingbottom later ruing the "honesty and naivety" of his players.
Egan had a chance soon after, controlling the ball awkwardly on his chest before lashing well over, while fellow defender Chris Basham did the same at the near post, but Vicente Guiata was never properly tested.
Benteke, teed up by Eze, rattled an upright from angle shortly before the hour mark and substitute Jordan Ayew went close with an effort that Ramsdale parried smartly.
But a second that both Eze and Palace richly merited came two minutes from time, the forward too easily riding a John Lundstram challenge at the halfway, skipping contemptuously past more half-challenges before unleashing a shot that nicked off Fleck.
Though there was fortune in the way both goals eventually crossed the line, the Blades had little claim on the contest as they slipped to a sixth defeat in seven under their interim boss, the only bright spot on a familiarly gloomy afternoon the debut of teenage striker Daniel Jebbison.
Hodgson could instead depart content, his future at the Palace helm still unclear but his side's Premier League status secure once again.
Sheffield United interim boss Paul Heckingbottom: "It was the start. When you're where we are in the league, to concede a goal that early is really tough. It's our fault but it put us on the back foot. I thought we were the team pushing in the second half but we were always vulnerable on the counter with players of their quality.
"Two deflected goals summed it up today. The honesty that I love about these players also cost us in the penalty box; coulda, woulda, should gone down. That's a stonewall penalty if Sander goes down. It's our naivety.
"We tried to play more forward passes in the second half. We huffed and puffed but missed the target. I feel for them; they're flat, they're down. It's a tough situation but we can't feel sorry for ourselves. That's going to be the message."
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "It was a very solid performance in every respect. Especially in the first half, they found it very difficult to mount any attacks. If anything it's the fact the 2-0 victory is scant reward for the opportunities we created and the quality of our play.
"[Eze] has progressed but there is a lot more progress to come. There was a spell where Benteke wasn't scoring but he'd tactically done what we'd asked of him and worked really hard. He's done all that season, improved in some respects and has added scoring goals into the bargain. With the resources we've had at our disposal, I think we've done an excellent job."
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp: "Eze was the best player on the pitch by a long way. He looks a different class. Pretty much all season he has been exceptional."
Sky Sports' Micah Richards: "He's a magician, isn't he? The way he took his second goal... he's a really big talent."
Sheffield United travel to Everton next Sunday for a 7pm kick-off, before a midweek visit to Newcastle on Wednesday May 19 - live on Sky Sports - and then a Premier League farewell at home to Burnley on Sunday May 23.
Palace face two double gameweeks before the season's conclusion, heading to Southampton on May 11, before hosting Aston Villa on May 16, with both games live on Sky Sports. They face Arsenal at home on May 19 and finish at Liverpool.
