Sheffield United 0-1 Crystal Palace: Odsonne Edouard bags second-half winner for Roy Hodgson’s side as Blades lose on their Premier League return

 Crystal Palace spoiled newly-promoted Sheffield United’s return to the Premier League with a poacher’s goal from Odsonne Edouard.

United, who have been relative quiet in the transfer window against the backdrop of takeover talks, allowed Edouard to convert Jordan Ayew’s cross early in the second half to give 76-year-old Eagles manager Roy Hodgson a deserved winning start to the season.

Blades fans have been anxious following the sales of key men Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge though they were glad to see £15million signing Gustavo Hamer paraded before kick off and Ivorain winger Bernie Traore make his debut.

For Palace, it represented the start of the post-Wilf Zaha era with the club legend having left for Galatasaray. They gave a debut to midfielder Jefferson Lerma though there was no sign of goalkeeper Vicene Guaita in the squad having refused to play in pre-season.

Nobody could fault Sheffield’s endeavour in the opening 45 minutes but Palace had the better quality.

Home striker Willie Osula sank to his knees in frustration after his shot curled just wide and it took 43 minutes for Oliver Norwood to register their first shot on target.

At the other end, Palace looked menacing without possessing a final cutting edge. Eberechi Eze was the danger-man, causing alarm every time he ran at the home defence.

United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was fortunate when he fisted Joachim Andersen’s shot straight into the path of Ayew. Ayew tucked away the rebound before being denied by the offside flag.

United needed to keep it tight at the start of the second half but found themselves conceding within four minutes to pop the party atmosphere.

Ayew was too quick for Ben Osborn down the right and fired in a dangerous cross that evaded three defenders before it reached Edouard inside the six-yard box.

The centre-forward stretched out a leg and made good contact to send the ball flashing past the helpless Foderingham.

Edouard missed a presentable header to make it 2-0 and that allowed the home fans to rally their side. The assistant’s flag again came to United’s rescue when the Frencham sidefooted Tyrick Mitchell’s cross but had strayed offside.

United manager Paul Heckingbottom said the club’s transfer business in the final two weeks of the window would define their season, a clear message to owner Prince Abdullah.

Anyone in the 31,000 crowd would have to agree with him as United ran their heart out whilst looking for an extra bit of quality.

Osula, a Danish under-21 international who went on loan to Derby last season, looked most likely but his well-struck shot after 70 minutes flew just the wrong side of the goal stanchion.

Heckingbottom made a triple change for the final 10 minutes with summer incomings Anis Slimane, Yassser Larouci and Souza all coming on. Slimane’s first contribution was to hack at Eze and collect a booking.

Foderingham kept his side in it with a brilliant reflex save to stop Andersen’s downward header but, unlike four years ago when United beat Palace on their return to the Premier League, there was ultimately no reward for the home side.