Crystal Palace 0-1 Sheffield United: Vicente Guaita own goal gifts Blades three points

Vicente Guaita dropped Oliver Norwood's corner over the line to hand Sheffield United all three points

Sheffield United moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Vicente Guaita's remarkable own goal gifted the Blades all three points at Crystal Palace.

Spanish goalkeeper Guaita mishandled Oliver Norwood's corner and dropped the ball into his own net just before the hour mark.

Chris Wilder's visitors had created little up to that stage, but held on to their advantage for a hard-fought victory.

The hosts dominated possession but rarely tested United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who did well to palm James McArthur's powerful effort to safety not long after the opener.

James Tomkins was inches away from connecting with McArthur's in-swinging delivery as Palace pushed for an equaliser, but John Fleck and Enda Stevens could have doubled United's lead on the counter-attack.

Referee Andy Madley showed Palace right-back Joel Ward a red card late on for a foul on Stevens, but downgraded the punishment to a yellow card after consulting his pitchside monitor.

The result lifts Sheffield United above Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who played out a goalless draw in Saturday's late game.

Blades grind out win

When Wilder's team edged Palace at Bramall Lane in August for their first Premier League win in 12 years, few would have expected the Blades to be nestled comfortably in the top half of the table more than five months later.

United have been notoriously difficult to beat on their travels this season and frustrated Palace throughout, producing a performance full of grit and determination to limit the hosts to just three efforts on target.

There was an element of fortune about the winner as Guaita inexplicably misjudged Norwood's cross, but Wilder's team refused to rest on their one-goal lead and could have won by a more comfortable margin.

Guaita had to intervene to stop Norwood's free-kick nestling in the back of the net before saving substitute Lys Mousset's goal-bound effort.

Defender John Egan fired wide from a good position following a goal-mouth scramble, while Stevens shot into the side-netting from a tight angle as the Blades threatened to catch Palace out on the counter.

Wilder's side have lost just two of their 13 league games away from Bramall Lane this season, winning four and drawing seven.

No way through for toothless Palace

Palace, by manager Roy Hodgson's own admission, were "a long way" below their usual standards in defeat to Southampton in their last league match, failing to register a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

The Eagles boss was boosted by the return from injury of first-team regulars Christian Benteke and Patrick van Aanholt, while captain Luka Milivojevic was available again following suspension. For all Palace's possession, though, Henderson's only save of the first half was a straightforward one from McArthur's tame effort.

The hosts felt United should have been reduced to 10 men shortly after the half-hour mark when George Baldock, already on a yellow card, appeared to catch Wilfried Zaha with a late challenge, but the Blades defender escaped further punishment.

Palace carried more of a goal threat in the second half, Benteke testing Henderson with a low shot before McArthur's powerful effort was punched clear by the Manchester United loanee.

Tomkins failed to get an all-important touch on McArthur's teasing delivery but the visitors held on comfortably in the end - despite Ward's red card being reduced to a yellow on the advice of the video assistant referee.

The result extends Palace's winless league run to six matches and leaves them in 13th place, six points above the relegation zone.

Man of the Match - John Egan (Sheffield United)

John Egan was at the heart of another resolute defensive showing by Chris Wilder's Sheffield United, making more clearances (7) than any of his teammates

Blades unbeaten in the capital this term - the stats

• Sheffield United enjoyed their first win in their last 20 Premier League games in London (D8 L11), although the Blades remain unbeaten in the capital in top-flight games this season (W1 D4).

• Crystal Palace fielded their oldest-ever starting XI in the Premier League (average age 30 years 94 days) and the second oldest by any side in the top-flight this season after Watford (30y 210d v Sheffield United in October 2019).

• Only league leaders Liverpool (15) have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season than Sheffield United (23).

• Crystal Palace have failed to score a first-half goal in a divisional-high 20 of their 25 Premier League games this season. Fifteen of those games have been goalless at the break, more than any other side's fixtures in 2019-20.

• Vicente Guaita is the 13th different player to score an own goal for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and the third goalkeeper to do so (Rhys Wilmot in 1995 and Wayne Hennessey in 2016).

• Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend made his 200th Premier League appearance, with 125 of them coming for the Eagles (50 for Tottenham, 13 for Newcastle, 12 for QPR).

'The referee hasn't done us any favours' - what the managers said

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, speaking to Sky Sports: "The goal was unfortunate because Guaita's done so well for us this season. He's made fantastic saves to keep us in games and get us three points at times.

"It's disappointing that he's going to bear the brunt of the criticism. Everyone who watches the game tonight will say it was the goalkeeper's fault. I'm sad for him because he doesn't deserve that."

On referee Andy Madley: "We thought George Baldock should have been red carded, but I don't want to pick the referee's decisions here and there. If we'd been given a red card and they'd been able to play on with 11 men after Baldock's challenge, I'd be perfectly entitled to stand here and say the referee hasn't done us any favours."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "It's a huge result today. We were up against some really good players but the team kept their discipline and shape.

"We were lucky with the goal, but I thought we were good value for the win. We're delighted to add another three points to the number we have already.

"Palace have a habit of feeling their way into the game and coming on strongly in the second half, but they started very well. I felt we stuck in the game and managed to get a very valuable three points."

What's next?

Crystal Palace travel to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday 8 February (kick-off 12:30 GMT), while Sheffield United host Bournemouth the following day (14:00 GMT).