Second half fightback earns Hornets all three points at Selhurst

Watford defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday afternoon after goals from Craig Cathcart and Tom Cleverley ruled out a first half own-goal from Northern Ireland international Cathcart.

Roy Hodgson alluded pre-match to Palace ambitions to reach the top ten this season. The Palace boss was clear that points at home were vital against teams in and around them but his men failed to deliver at Selhurst.

Palace came into the game unchanged from their impressive 2-0 away win at Wolves. Watford made one change from 3-3 draw against Bournemouth with Will Hughes coming in for Ken Sema.

Watford should have opened the scoring on three minutes after Gerard Deulofeu cheekily nutmegged James Tomkins before curling an effort on to the post. Roberto Pereyra looked set to swipe in the rebound but could only match his Spanish teammate in striking the same post, in what was a huge let off for the Crystal Palace defence.

The Eagles recovered from their slow start with Goal of the Month winner Andros Townsend looking most threatening down the home sides right flank whilst star man Wilfried Zaha also looked dangerous, driving a low shot into the arms of Ben Foster.

Will Hughes was replaced by Ken Sema on 20 minutes as a precautionary measurement after an earlier head clash, meaning both sides were now unchanged from their last Premier League fixtures.

Palace’s best chance of the game followed just a minute later as captain Luka Milivojevic floated a ball into the area but Jordan Ayew, who has two goals in his last two appearances, failed to capitalise heading over the bar.

The home side continued to dominate possession but were struggling to create clear-cut chances, many of the their efforts coming from long-range.

Meanwhile, the presence of Watford captain Troy Deeney was disrupting the Palace back line as Deulofeu and Pereyra were often allowed space to drive towards goal.

This presence almost resulted in the opening goal, Mamadou Sahko almost hooking the ball into his own net under pressure from the English striker.

Deeney continued to cause problems, rising above Sahko to head just wide ten minutes before the break.

Palace responded to a spell of Watford dominance positively, Aaron Wan-Bissaka getting to the by-line and earning his team a corner. The resulting corner saw a Tomkins head tipped over for another Palace corner.

This time the corner saw the opening goal of the game in the 38th minute. A goal mouth scramble ensued from Milivojevic’s cross as when looking to clear Abdoulaye Doucoure inadvertently hit his own teammate Cathcart to send the ball into the back of the Watford net.

Crystal Palace celebrate the opening goal (Twitter/@CPFC)

Deulofeu looked to restore parity but put his effort just wide after a superb solo run.

The home side were forced into a change just before half-time with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita going off after injuring himself collecting a high Jose Holebas cross. His replacement Wayne Hennessey was sure to be looking to write this name into the headlines for the right reasons after criticism for a gesture he made this week.

Crystal Palace would have been two up at the half if not for the brilliance of Ben Foster, the former England international doing brilliantly to a deny a deflected shot from Milivojeivc.

Palace did lead at the break and were value for it, although Deulofeu and Pereyra will still wonder how they hadn’t given the away side the lead early on.

Zaha was presented two huge chances to double the lead early in the second half, first squandering a one to one effort after dispossessing Doucoure and then flashing an effort wide of the left hand post from close range.

Roy Hodgson’s team had started the second half like he would have hoped and were cranking up the pressure on the away side. Javi Gracia’s men did eventually settle, Etienne Capoue earning them a corner as they looked to regain eighth place from West Ham, who were victorious against Arsenal earlier in the day.

It was an end to end affair at Selhurst Park with Deulofeu and Pereyra for Watford and Townsend and Zaha for Palace constantly running at the opposing sides defence.

Luka Milivojevic  almost rivaled his teammate Townsend’s wonderful goal at Manchester City midway through the half, a swirling effort from 30 years out only kept out by a two handed save from Foster.

It was Watford who struck the telling blow though on 67 minutes, a deep corner from Holebas finding Cathcart who in turn headed past the indecisive Hennessey into the same net he had scored his own goal in during the first half.

Hodgson will wonder how his side didn’t retake the lead just five minutes later as a Zaha run looked destined to be turned in by James McArthur at the far post, only for the Scotsman to slice the chance.

His Spanish counterpart was soon celebrating though. After Palace failed to clear a long throw, the ball finally fell to Tom Cleverley who took the ball on the volley and struck it sweetly into the top left corner to give the Hornets the lead.

Tom Cleverley finds the top corner with a well-struck volley to give Watford the lead (Twitter/@WatfordFC)

Zaha should have equalised two minutes later as his effort flashed just wide of Foster’s goal.

Hodgson wasted no time in looking for the equaliser, introducing the returning Christian Benteke for McArthur.

The home side grew frustrated and presented a great chance to the dangerous Deulofeu after fouling him on the edge of the box, but the former Barcelona player could only hit the Palace wall.

The Eagles continued to press with Zaha the architect of much of their play, Benteke also now looking a danger as Crystal Palace continued to pump balls into the Watford box.

Palace’s pressure failed to tell despite late corners giving the home fans hope of a result. Hodgson will be far from pleased given his pre-match thoughts as Javi Gracia’s side go back up into the top eight.

FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1 Watford 2

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita (GK) (Hennessey, 45), Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sahko, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic (C), Kouyate, McArthur (Benteke, 78), Townsend, Zaha, Ayew (Schlupp,83)

Unused substitutes: Ward, Kelly, Meyer, Wickham

Watford XI: Foster (GK), Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Hughes (Sema,20) (Cleverley,68), Capoue, Doucoure, Pereyra (Masina, 90+3), Deulofeu, Deeney (C)

Unused substitutes: Gomes (GK), Britos, Success, Quina

Referee: Paul Tierney