BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

Watford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in a feisty London Derby to move on to 36 points and virtually guarantee their safety in the Premier League for another season.

The game came alive when Watford ventured forward and won a corner.  From the resultant corner, Miles Jedinak grabbed hold of Troy Deeney and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.  Deeney promptly took it and sent Wayne Hennessey the wrong way to give Watford the lead in the 15^th minute.

That was Deeney’s seventh league goal of the season and his first since Boxing Day. Some will look at the decision and wish all referees would show the same level consistency by giving penalty in this situation.  Watford were not worrying about that though.

Palace were not feeling sorry for themselves and surged forward.  Yohan Cabaye hit a shot from just outside the D, which Heurelho Gomes tipped round the post.

Four minutes before the break, Watford nearly doubled their lead as Deeney flicked on a free kick to his strike partner Odion Ighalo who could only flick the ball over the crossbar.  The Palace fans were getting restless and made their feelings known. Watford were not much better as the passing from both sides was awful. However they held the lead.

Palace drew level right on the stroke of half time. Connor Wickham’s cross from the left was met with a header by Emmanuel Adebayor, which looped over Gomes and into the net. That was Adebayor’s first goal for the Eagles.

The game remained level at the break.  On the hour mark Adebayor nearly got a second. Wilfried Zaha twisted and turned on the left before crossing to Adebayor, whose toe poke was somehow saved by Gomes with his foot.  A minute later Jordon Mutch hit one from long distance and Gomes tipped it round the post. Palace were much improved and were knocking on the door.

With less than a quarter of the game remaining Ighalo and Deeney combined once again and the ball eventually fell to Nathan Ake on the left but his shot was too weak to trouble Hennessey.  That was a big chance.

In the 83^rd minute a cross from the right was headed away by Damien Delaney but it fell to Deeney at the back post and he smashed it past Hennessey to restore Watford’s lead.   In the 90^th minute Cabaye hit a sweet first time volley but it hit the upright.  In stoppage time Pape Souare was late with an over the top tackle on Valon Behrami and he was sent off.   Zaha who had a good game on the left crossed to Joel Ward but his header was just over the bar and with that Palace’s last chance of salvaging a point from the game disappeared.  Palace have only taken a point from their last seven games.

Alan Pardew said: ” The first goal affected us. The manner of the penalty was strange. We have had many incidents like that this season.  The balance was not there for us today.  I am not going to disguise the fact that it has been a difficult run.  Adebayor’s goal might be important for us as none of our other strikers are scoring.”

The Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores said: “It was an important win for us today.  I am happy with the players and the way we got the win today. Troy has an amazing personality. He is always ready for everything.   In terms of his quality, work, and interceptions while defending, playing deep he is important to us.”