Such is Hodgson’s luck at the moment, both those attackers picked up knocks in the second half. Olise limped off after scoring the third, a superb strike from range, and Eze followed him a few minutes later. A concerning sight for all of a Palace persuasion, especially Hodgson as he clings onto his job amid growing discontent among the club’s supporters.
Palace has not been a happy club in recent weeks and the hope within the organisation, no doubt, would have been that their sudden flurry of transfer activity would have helped to lift the mood here. Earlier in the day they announced the £7million signing of Daniel Munoz, an exciting right-back, and they are also close to adding Blackburn Rovers teenager Adam Wharton in a deal worth around £20million.
But if the off-field news did have any positive impact, it did not last for long. Palace were trailing within just 20 seconds, which was as startling as it was concerning for Hodgson. Brereton Diaz has only been a Sheffield United player for a few weeks but he already has the look and feel of a man who can bring hope to their cause, and his curling strike was measured to perfection.
For Hodgson, a manager who builds so much of his philosophy on keeping things tight at the back, this was a truly disastrous start. His players were quick to respond, though, and this soon became a wonderfully – and perhaps unexpectedly – entertaining evening of football.
Most of the excitement, it should be said, stemmed from the boots and brains of Eze and Olise. These are two creative talents who would not look out of place in the Champions League, and they combined wonderfully throughout the first half.
First, Eze pulled Palace level by reaching a stretched leg to Olise’s curling cross. He then scored his second, a powerful left-footed effort that scorched into the top corner, after once again being found by the imaginative Olise.
In between those two goals, however, was another for Sheffield United. The visitors scored with their first attack, after 20 seconds, and they also scored with their second, after 20 minutes. McAtee’s shot was deflected horribly off the foot of Marc Guehi, who could only watch in horror as the ball looped over Dean Henderson and into his own net.
The second half was less open but there was still time for Olise to make his mark again, with a low shot from range, before he left the game for good. Eze was then substituted, too, and without them Palace were scrambling to hold on. Anel Ahmedhodzic struck the bar for Sheffield United as Palace — and their supporters — began to worry.
Despite the late nervousness, Olise and Eze’s brilliance ultimately proved to be enough for Palace to win the game. Plenty of questions remain but those two players, at least, provided some encouraging answers.