CRYSTAL PALACE 2 WATFORD 1

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

CRYSTAL PALACE somehow found a way past Watford to move off the bottom of the table when it looked unlikely, with two goals at the end of the game and in stoppage time from their substitutes.  They were below par and nowhere near the gut wrenching performance they put in at the weekend when they dropped points after Christian Benteke missed a late penalty. 

Roy Hodgson said: “It was not one of our better performances. We have played better than this, this season and not got three points. I would rather have three points irrespective of the performance. There is no complaint from my side tonight. I commend the players’ resilience, determination and ability to keep going.”

 Palace started badly and were caught cold in the second minute as Richarlison sent in a cross from the left, which was headed home by Daryl Janmaat to give Watford the lead. As much as Palace tried they just could not string two passes together and some of the players stood off the Watford team who had time on the ball and space.

Scott Dann came close on the hour mark but his header was just past the post.

Watford should have doubled their lead seconds later as Richarlison tried to put the ball on a plate for Troy Deeney but a slight deflection from Dann took it away from him. Palace did not come with their A game in the first half and the only shot on target was Watford’s goal.

Richarlison had a chance in the second half to put the game to bed but Julian Speroni saved his shot with his feet.

Tom Cleverely was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for a wreckless tackle, which was to have a bearing on the result.  A minute later Palace were level from a goalmouth scramble, which went in off Bakary Sako. That was Palace’s first shot on target.

In stoppage time Palace took numerical advantage when Wilfried Zaha crossed the ball to second half substitute James McArthur, who side-footed the ball home to give Palace an unlikely win.   

Watford will wonder how a game they were totally in control of slipped away from them but Cleverley proved to be the villain. Marco Silva said: “ We should have won the game. We were leading 1-0 but we must score more. We had two clear chances including a one on one with the keeper.”

Palace will hope that they could gain momentum from what was only their second win of the season. They are now unbeaten in 6 games but they will need more wins. They now have two away games against Leicester City and Swansea before two difficult fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City at home after Christmas.