SHEFFIELD UNITED got their home Premier League campaign off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday.
 
Twelve years after it last hosted top flight football, Bramall Lane was back and buzzing with the hopes and dreams of half a city. John Lundstram’s second half strike helped mark the occasion with three points against an extremely flat Eagles side.

Blades manager Chris Wilder felt his team dealt with the occasion well and fully deserved the result.

“We had to manage the game, there was obviously a lot of talk about the first game back in the Premier League and the atmosphere,” he said.

“We put in a disciplined performance and a well balanced performance. It is a good day for me as a manager in terms of how we played. They’re a great side away from home, they’ve won seven out of 10 away games. 

“Now we have to prove we belong at this level.”
 
The home players were greeted by a terrific atmosphere but it was the visitors who had the first sight of goal. A long ball searching for Wilfried Zaha eventually found its way to Christian Benteke but Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson was equal to it.

United left back Enda Stevens was incensed as referee David Coote waved away appeals for handball in the area against Joel Ward. Supporters chanted for VAR but play went on as the hosts went close again through Jack O’Connell.
 
Just past the half hour mark Callum Robinson squandered the best chance of the first half for United. After controlling a ball from first-half substitute Luke Freeman the 24-year-old blazed over from the edge of the box. David McGoldrick should have scored for the hosts with half time looming, but he could only direct John Lundstram’s cross into Vicente Guaita’s arms.
 
It took just two minutes after the restart for Sheffield United to grab the lead. O’Connell broke down the left and released Freeman who had his shot parried into the path of Lundstram, allowing the midfielder to lash home.
 
From then on there seemed to be much more purpose about the hosts, who had to replace the injured Robinson with club-record signing Oli McBurnie.

Palace, meanwhile, offered little as the game went on and Wilfred Zaha looked rusty after his frustrating summer. The Eagles will be hoping the Ivorian doesn’t depart with the European transfer window open until the end of the month.
 
O’Connell, in the thick of the action throughout, forced Guaita into a save with a header at the back post before Palace substitute James McCarthy was booked for his part in a coming together with George Baldock.
 
McBurnie saw a chance to score his first Blades goal go begging with just over 10 minutes remaining, failing to guide his header on target from a corner on the left, but the side held on for a huge victory. 

Roy Hodgson could only watch on as his side did little to inspire him.

The Palace boss admitted that his side “lost composure” as the game went on.

“We were poor in the second half. At the break I thought we were good value at 0-0, but in the second half we lost our composure in the final third.”