Crystal Palace crashed to their third home defeat in succession at Selhurst Park on Saturday after their worst performance of the year.

An excellent individual goal from the Blades' Michael Brown formerly a target for Palace boss Trevor Francis sealed the match midway through the second half. He robbed David Hopkin on the halfway line and stormed down to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a perfectly placed strike that curled past Palace stopper Matt Clarke.

To make matters worse for Palace, it was another thankless afternoon of toil for Palace's new signing Ade Akinbiyi, who started up front with Clinton Morrison, as Dougie Freedman was sidelined with flu. He had to endure dreadful service from his midfield, and negative chanting from a section of Palace fans who have given up on the £2.4 million striker after just three starts. Akinbiyi would be forgiven for relishing Tuesday night's trip to Oakwell, if only to be 200 miles away from Selhurst Park.

More than Freedman up front, Palace were desperately missing their defenders Kit Symons and Tony Popovic, as well as their suspended defensive midfielders Aki Riihilahti and Danny Granville. Palace tried to plug the gaps, but the team out on the field on Saturday was too far removed from an ideal starting 11 to be able to function. An organised and capable Sheffield United side bided their time and waited for the opportunity to present itself which came with Hopkin's misplaced pass.

Palace themselves created only one chance of note, when Jovan Kirovski wastefully scuffed his shot straight at Simon Tracey after 12 minutes, when Morrison was poised to tap in at the back post. After that, the United keeper was not troubled again, and his defence protected him well from the mediocre threat Palace posed.

It did not augur well for Trevor Francis' men, who have to win the majority of their remaining games in order to secure a play-off slot. The question is now whether the squad is good enough to fill in for the key players when they are injured or suspended, in order to stay in the hunt come May. And on the evidence of Saturday, Cardiff seems a very long way away.