Crystal Palace 1 Sheffield United 0: Adams says tide will turn after ‘wonder strike’ shatters Blades

The Blades are five points adrift of Palace, and safety, and staring at third-tier football for the first time in 22 years.

They go to next-to-bottom Scunthorpe United tomorrow before entertaining Derby County on Saturday.

Darren Ambrose’s second-half stunning strike left Adams still searching for his first win in 10 games since he took charge of the club he supported as a boy.

But he remained upbeat about the Blades’ prospects saying: “People will look at the result and say we are dead and buried but we are not.

“We go to Scunthorpe on Tuesday and we know it’s a very big game and then we have Derby County on Saturday, so there are two important games coming up. If we show the spirit we have shown today and the belief in ourselves things will turn.

“Dave Bassett (former Blades manager and now advising Adams behind the scenes) told me that when they got promoted to the First Division they went something like 17 games and only got four points and yet finished 12th so there is a long way to go in the season. I don’t think we should write ourselves off quite yet.

“Nothing will be decided on Tuesday or Saturday but we know the importance of the games.”

Adams was happy with his side’s commitment but they could not breach a Palace defence which have now not let in a goal at home in more than 12 hours.

In a game which both teams were desperate not to lose, it was going to take something special to break the deadlock and Ambrose was the man to provide it.

The midfielder has endured a stop-start season due to injury but crashed in his fifth goal of the campaign in style from 20 yards.

The opening stages suggested the visitors would make a decent fist of it, with Neill Collins heading a good chance wide and Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne blocking Richard Cresswell’s effort on the line.

But that was about as good as it got for the Blades.

At the other end, Palace broke away when Wilfried Zaha played in James Vaughan, only for the Everton loanee to blaze over.

South Africa World Cup star Kagisho Dikgacoi joined the Eagles on loan from Fulham last week and almost marked his debut in spectacular style with a 25-yard volley.

United goalkeeper Steve Simonsen managed to palm the fierce shot away and Ambrose scuffed the follow-up wide.

Ambrose nearly made amends after 20 minutes when he hammered a 25-yard free-kick which took a slight deflection and forced Simonsen into a fine diving save.

United’s crosses were causing occasional panic in the Palace area with goalkeeper Julian Speroni uncharacteristically flapping at one and captain Paddy McCarthy heading another inches wide of his own goal.

After the break, Speroni came out bravely to deny Cresswell and Dean Moxey warmed Simonsen’s hands with a low drive.

But the game was meandering towards a bore draw until the 69th minute when Neil Danns won a header 30 yards out.

The ball bounced to Ambrose who, in a flash, had controlled it with his left foot before smashing it past Simonsen with his right for a truly memorable goal.

The Blades almost pulled one back but substitute Marcus Bent’s header was blocked on the line by a sea of Palace defenders.

Ambrose could have had a second at the end but he sent a far easier chance than the one he scored high over the top.

“In terms of performance, I thought we were spot on but we conceded a wonder goal and we are left saying the same things over and over again. It’s just not dropping for us,” said Adams.

The United chief was impressed by Bjorn Helge Riise on his second appearance in a week following his loan move from Fulham.

“He will get sharper as the weeks progress. He has shown glimpses today of what he is capable of. When he comes off the line he gives defenders problems and he can be pleased with his performance,” said Adams of his flank player.

“We are bitterly disappointed that we got nothing out of the game – you can’t legislate for a wonder goal – but it’s not life-threatening at the moment,” added Adams, who welcomed back striker Ched Evans from illness in the second half and who expects Sam Vokes to be in contention for a place at Glanford Park.

Adams, who has the task of restoring spirits in the camp ahead of tomorrow’s trip, continued: “I always feel the way you get your confidence back is by having touches on the ball and having a bit of belief in yourself and I think we showed that today.

“Some of the passing was good and we found little pockets of space particularly the two wide players. Don’t write us off yet.”

Eagles manager Dougie Freedman was understandably delighted to see last season’s top scorer back to his best.

“It was a great goal,” said the former Palace striker. “Injuries have held him back but it was only a matter of time before he started scoring goals like that now he’s fit.

“The season was not going to be decided today, but it’s a big three points.”

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Moxey, Zaha (Scannell 66), Danns, Ambrose (Davis 87), Wright, Vaughan (Counago 87), Dikgacoi. Unused substitutes: Price, Barrett, Iversen, Easter.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Nosworthy, Collins, Lowry, Lowton, Williamson, Doyle (Bent 72), Quinn (Evans 72), Riise, Bogdanovic (Yeates 76), Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Long, Ertl, Calve, Parrino.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).