Mamadou Sakho makes timely return for Crystal Palace against Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup and shows just what they’ve been missing.
Crystal Palace’s Pape Souare (R) gestures to Patrick van Aanholt as he starts the second half.
Crystal Palace secured their first win of the 2017/18 season with a 1-0 victory against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup to help raise a smile for the fans and new manager Roy Hodgson.
Although Bakary Sako scored the only goal of the game, it was the return of his near namesake Mamadou Sakho after injury that could really be the biggest boost for Hodgson.
Roy Hodgson looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town.
The Eagles’ 1-0 defeat at home to Southampton in the Premier League at the weekend gave them the unwanted record of being the only team in top flight history in England to lose their first five league matches without scoring a goal.
Sakho is unlikely to help in that department, but Palace have also failed to keep a clean-sheet in the English top tier this term and the Frenchman’s commanding and strong influence at the back can certainly help there.
Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho gestures as he celebrates on the pitch after the English Premier League football match against Watford.
Not only that, but having not been involved in any of those losses so far this campaign the 27-year-old’s morale should hopefully not be as low and the centre-back can help in lifting the spirit of his teammates and getting those first points.
It is not exactly an easy run in for the South Londoners with Manchester City and Manchester United away and then Chelsea at home their next three league fixtures, but having an in form Sakho in the starting XI will certainly be a major boost.
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