Crystal Palace 2-0 Sheffield United: Chris Wilder says Blades need 'incredible run'

Manager Chris Wilder says Sheffield United need an "incredible run" to avoid relegation after their awful start to the season continued with defeat at Crystal Palace.

This 15th loss leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table with two points, 12 from safety. No club has stayed up after such a start to a campaign.

Jeffrey Schlupp opened the scoring for Palace with a deflected finish before going off injured.

Eberechi Eze, his replacement, doubled the lead with a stunning solo effort, running from inside his own half and finishing from 18 yards after evading a couple of challenges.

"It was the perfect storm last season - players were at the top of their game and we had no injuries," said Wilder, whose side finished ninth on their return to top-flight football.

"Now injuries are hitting us quite hard... but we had enough on the pitch to get us a result. The result wasn't decided when the team sheet came in. It was decided in fourth minute and the last 30 seconds of the first half.

"This club, over the past three, four years, is not used to losing games. It's difficult, it's a struggle, its ruthless and murders you at times with what you're up against."

Asked if United can get out of their predicament, Wilder said: "We have to do it sooner than later. There are records to be broken - we have to find a win from somewhere."

United finished the game with 16-year-old substitute Antwoine Hackford on the pitch, the youngest player to appear for the club in the Premier League.

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Eze warming to Premier League

After five games without a victory, this was a welcome return to winning ways for Roy Hodgson's Palace with the highlight undoubtedly Eze's exceptional goal.

The 22-year-old forward has adapted quickly since making the step up from Championship club QPR on a five-year deal for £19.5m in August.

Eze's first Palace goal was a sublime free-kick against Leeds in November. His second was just as pleasing on the eye.

Blades boss Wilder was furious his players did not close down the former Arsenal youth player but Eze's calm and composed finish, after running half the length of the pitch, was delightful.

It capped a solid team performance as Palace put the memory of recent heavy defeats by Liverpool and Aston Villa behind them with a first clean sheet win since the opening weekend of the season.

With the January transfer window about to open, Paris St-Germain and AC Milan are the latest clubs to be linked with Wilfried Zaha and the Ivory Coast forward played a part in Palace's opening goal.

He also set up a good chance for Christian Benteke, who later went off injured, before getting involved in an unnecessary spat with Jayden Bogle after failing to win a free-kick.

But Palace's season, after a couple of hiccups, is up and running again as they get ready for three away games, against Wolves in the FA Cup, followed by Arsenal and Manchester City in the league.

Blades sinking fast

Wilder was clearly upset with his players for not stopping Eze as he galloped away to score at the end of the first half.

Having recorded a number of positive coronavirus cases during the latest round of testing, United were also without several players because of injury and suspension.

They were so depleted they could only name six substitutes instead of the usual nine, while Bogle was handed his first league start since arriving from Derby in September 2020.

Shortly before Palace's second goal, Vicente Guaita denied Bogle with a good save but the Blades offered little serious threat going forward and managed just two attempts on target.

With Tottenham (home), Manchester United (away) and Manchester City (away) to come in January, the picture is getting bleaker by the week.

However, Hackford - aged 16 years 288 days - looked bright when he came on and was denied a goal in the 90th minute when Joel Ward blocked his effort.

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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "I have seen some very good goals recently but they have been against us so that has been the problem.

"It was nice to see one for us for a change because a lot of the goals we have conceded, in particular against West Ham and Liverpool, were incredible finishes."

Sweet 16 - the stats

• Antwoine Hackford is the 20th 16-year-old to play in the Premier League.
• Sheffield United are the first English top-flight side to fail to win any of their first 17 games in a season since Bolton Wanderers in 1902-03.
• Eberechi Eze is the fourth Crystal Palace player to score their first two Premier League goals for the club from outside the penalty box and first since Ricky Newman in 1994 (also Gareth Southgate and Simon Rodger).
• The Blades have gone 20 league games without a clean sheet, the longest current run in the division.
• Palace have scored 12 first-halflLeague goals this season, two more than they scored before half-time in the whole of 2019-20.

What's next?

Both teams are in FA Cup third-round action next. Crystal Palace are at Wolves next Friday (19:45 GMT), before Sheffield United look to avoid an upset at League One Bristol Rovers on Saturday (15:00).

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