Eberechi Eze scores stunner as Crystal Palace inflict unwanted record on Sheffield United

A 2-0 win at Selhurst Park ensures the Blades now hold the record for the longest winless start to a Premier League campaign

Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring Crystal Palace's second goal against Sheffield United. Reuters

Eberechi Eze scored a stunner to help Crystal Palace earn a 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday and hand another unwanted record to Chris Wilder and his team.

Jeffrey Schlupp opened the scoring in the fourth minute but was forced off injured five minutes before half time. His replacement, Eze, wasted little time making his mark on the game, collecting the ball from deep inside his own half before shrugging off a couple of weak challenges and slotting into the far corner in first-half stoppage time.

Bottom side Sheffield United rarely threatened in attack, despite holding a slight majority of the possession, and the defeat means the Blades now hold the record for the longest winless start to a Premier League campaign. They have managed just two draws from their first 17 games.

Eleven points from safety, United's future looks increasingly likely to be in the Championship – where Eze was plying his trade last season for Queen's Park Rangers.

There was a great deal of excitement following his £19.5 million summer move to Palace and he showed once again how quickly he has adapted to the top tier of English football.

"It was a good goal and I'm grateful for the opportunity to come on. To take my chance is great. Whenever you're on the bench you want to come on and make a difference," Eze said.

"We've struggled the last couple of games so it's massive for us. The manager said we had to stick together and work hard and the results would come. It's important to stay together as a team."

Both teams are next in action in the FA Cup third round, with Palace travelling to take on fellow Premier League sides Wolves on Friday, while United go to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.