WELL THAT’S ABOUT TIME
Palace break goal drought as Sako strike hands Roy’s boys a lift and a win
ROY HODGSON recorded his first win since Euro 2016 as Bakary Sako scored the opening goal of his Crystal Palace reign. The Eagles had failed to find the net in five Premier League games and sit bottom of the table after the worst top-flight start ever. But Palace gained some revenge for their Selhurst Park defeat by Huddersfield last month with a stylish win over David Wagner’s underwhelming side. Hodgson, who lost to Southampton on his return on Saturday, last tasted victory against Wales in Lens on June 16 last year. And Sako last scored for Palace in August 2015. The former Wolves star, who missed the start of the season with a calf strain, had gone 30 games without a goal. The tie also saw the return of full-back Pape Souare, who came off the bench at half-time to huge applause for his first appearance since a career-threatening car crash last September. Both teams made nine changes from their Premier League games on Saturday. Andros Townsend and Jeffrey Schlupp for Palace and Town’s Tom Ince and Elias Kachunga were the only players to keep their places. Mamadou Sakho started his first match since signing permanently from Liverpool, while Florent Hadergjonaj made his debut for the Terriers. With Christian Benteke on the bench for the Eagles, Sako played up front with Chung-yong Lee. And the Huddersfield defence gifted the Mali international the opener after 13 minutes when Joe Lolley conceded a corner then Sako was left unmarked to head home Townsend’s delivery. It was Palace’s first goal against Premier League opposition since May 14. The home side dominated the half with Townsend and Schlupp forcing Joel Coleman into saves. Ince was Huddersfield’s biggest threat. The former Palace loanee had his shot saved by Julian Speroni then fired a free-kick over. Wagner replaced Lolly with Abdelhamid Sabiri at the break and the German-moroccan midfielder brought a smart save from Speroni. The introductions of Aaron Mooy and Dean Whitehead saw the Terriers dominate the later stages without looking like forcing the equaliser.