‘Excellent’ – Roy Hodgson hails attacking play from Eze and Olise after Crystal Palace beat Sheffield United

Roy Hodgson hailed Crystal Palace’s attacking play from Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze after their 3-2 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday.

The Eagles got off to the worst possible start when Ben Brereton Diaz attacked Chris Richards and cut onto his right foot to curl a shot around the USA international and beyond Dean Henderson to open the scoring after 21 seconds.

Eberechi Eze equalised for Palace in the 17th minute when he met Michael Olise’s cross inside the area to volley beyond Ivo Grbic.

But Sheffield United were quickly back in front three minutes later when Ollie McBurnie took Will Hughes and Joachim Andersen out of the game to find James McAtee driving towards goal. The former Manchester City youngster took aim and his effort deflected off Marc Guehi and looped over Henderson.

Palace drew level once again in the 27th minute when Eberechi Eze got the ball on the edge of the box with just Vini Souza around him. The Greenwich-born playmaker shifted the ball onto his left foot and curled a stunning effort from outside the area past the Blades keeper.

Michael Olise put Palace ahead for the first time on the night in the 67th minute when he arrived onto Jean-Philippe Mateta’s deflected shot on the edge of the box to fire a first-time effort past Wes Foderigham.

Both Olise and Eze were forced off in the second half but the Eagles held on to secure all three points.

It was just the fourth time this season that Eze and Olise had started a Premier League game together.

Hodgson said: “If you look at all the other football clubs, even the ones at the top of the league, you will find they also thrive for the best part on one or two of their star players.

“It’s not unusual that a team needs that type of creative talent and ability to pull everybody through.

“While the two of them were on the field, the quality of our play was very good. 

“You saw that when they both came off, it was a bit harder for the lads who have to shoulder the burden because what they’re capable of doing is probably a little bit higher than the average level of performance from teams in our place in the league.

“I was very pleased with two things.

“In the first 60-odd minutes they were on together, I thought we looked good – the quality of the attacking play was excellent and we created a lot of chances.

“We asked an awful lot of questions and basically played the game in Sheffield half.

“But they, and full credit to them, continued to make life difficult and they scored two goals.

“I’m also pleased with the resilience the players showed.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD