Helps give Eagles lift-off at last
team that began the 1-0 defeat at Spurs but still picked a side packed with experience, Yohan Cabaye making his first start since Euro 2016.
Benteke starting also surprised some, but he had played almost no football with Liverpool this summer and needs to build up match fitness.
Benteke had the first effort at goal, rising almost unchallenged to meet a cross from Martin Kelly on the right, but his header was too close to goalkeeper Sam Slocombe.
It was a sign of things to come as Palace looked for their new front man whenever a chance arose to cross the ball.
Blackpool seldom tested new Palace keeper Steve Mandanda on his debut and a Palace goal seemed inevitable and it came after 25 minutes. Andros Townsend’s cross from the left was only half-cleared and Scott Dann volleyed the ball back across the sixyard box where Robertson deflected it past Slocombe.
Blackpool responded, Armand Gnanduillet skipping past Pape Souare and crossing low but Jim McAlister’s halfhit shot was cleared.
Benteke’s moment seemed to have come after 33 minutes when Slocombe parried a shot by Kelly straight to his feet but his left-foot shot found the side netting. And he tried his luck once more just before half-time, with a similar result.
It was his last chance to score on his debut. He was replaced at half-time by Wickham, who netted almost straight away, meeting Jason Puncheon’s cross low from the right first-time shot.
Townsend almost made it 3-0 with a freekick but Slocombe palmed it away. with
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1):
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