Crystal Palace's English manager Roy Hodgson (L) applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on August 12, 2023. Palace won the game 1-0. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Sheffield, England: Odsonne Edouard’s goal early in the second half earned Crystal Palace a 1-0 opening win at Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday to worsen the gloom at Bramall Lane.
Edouard struck from close range four minutes after the restart in a game that Palace largely dominated. Jordan Ayew found a good position on the right-hand side and sent in a tricky low cross which Edouard stabbed in from close range.
Roy Hodgson’s Palace had two further goals disallowed, while Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham made a number of saves to keep his side in the game.
Sheffield United’s return to the top flight after two seasons away ended with a poor defeat to compound a negative few weeks which saw the sale of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom acknowledged before the match that his team is "nowhere near” where they need to be, though the signing of Gustavo Hamer from Coventry overnight had boosted the mood.
