Crystal Palace rubberstamped Premier League survival and ended a winless run of five games with a 2-0 victory at relegated Sheffield United.
Christian Benteke’s deflected shot after just 67 seconds belied Palace’s dominance against a long-beaten side who failed to muster an effort on target all afternoon.
Benteke was denied from close-range by a fine first-half Aaron Ramsdale save, before drilling against a post after the break, but a belated second finally came through Eberechi Eze (88) as the Eagles eased past the 40-point mark and made sure of an eighth successive season in the top flight.
Sheffield United, whose own relegation was followed earlier by that of rivals Sheffield Wednesday from the Championship – the city’s first double drop in the same season – never truly threatened to punish Palace’s profligacy as they recorded a 28th league defeat of a tortuous season.
