September 19 2017

Sako: On the score sheet against Huddersfield

Crystal Palace beat Huddersfield 1-0 and progressed into the fourth round of the League Cup, courtesy of a first half Bakary Sako header.

Eagles legend Julian Speroni captained the side for his second appearance of the season.

Roy Hodgson opted for a back four of Patrick van Aanholt, Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins and Martin Kelly.

Christian Benteke was rested, so Lee Chung-yong and Bakary Sako formed a partnership in attack.

Palace played some great stuff in the first half, with Sakho looking assured in the back line, and Jairo Riedewald forming a great partnership with Luka Milivojevic in midfield.

Sako put the Eagles 1-0 up on 13 minutes when he was left unmarked in the box at a corner, and powered his header past Joel Coleman in the Huddersfield goal.

1-0 @sakobakary26 pic.twitter.com/F8z5JNGx49

— CPFCGIFS (@GIFS_CPFC) September 19, 2017

In the second half Pape Souare made a welcome return at left back replacing Jeffrey Schlupp.

Huddersfield enjoyed greater spells of possession in the second 45 but Palace remained resolute in their defending.

Substitute Yohan Cabaye had a shot from 25 yards which tested Coleman towards the end of the game, but the Eagles held out, and now progress into the 4th round of the League Cup.

Clean Sheet !!! Thank you for you support tonight ⚽️👍🏿🔴🔵 #CPFCFamily #CPFC pic.twitter.com/I00kDyExFR

— Mamadou Sakho (@mamadousakho) September 19, 2017

Palace: Speroni, Sakho (Delaney, 70), Tomkins, Kelly, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Schlupp (Souare, 45), Townsend, Riedewald (Cabaye, 80), Lee, Sako

Subs not used: Hennessey, Mutch, Ward, Benteke

Huddersfield: Coleman, Hefele, Malone, Hadergjonaj, Cranie, Hogg (Whitehead, 70), Ince (Mooy, 69), van La Parra, Lolley, Billing, Kachunga

Subs not used: Lowe, Lossl, Jorgensen, Sabiri, Smith