Ten-man Crystal Palace fell to another Selhurst Park defeat this afternoon, as a Troy Deeney double either side of Emannuel Adebayor’s first Palace goal handed Watford all three points.
Alan Pardew made one change to the side that snatched a point at Swansea City a week ago, with Chung-yong Lee making way for Connor Wickham, who played on the left of a three-man attack that included Adebayor and Wilfried Zaha.
Palace fall behind through questionable penalty
Following a spell of pressure from Palace, Watford took the lead through a dubious penalty decision in the 16th minute. Ben Watson’s corner was headed wide by Sebastien Prodl, however referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot and later replays showed Mile Jedinak was pulling the shirt of Deeney. The Hornets talisman dusted himself and stroked the ball home, sending Wayne Hennessey the wrong way in the process.
Palace struggled to carve many openings in the opening 45 minutes and the passing was extremely lacklustre; particularly exemplified when Jedinak passed straight into the feet of Nordin Amrabat, who advanced towards the final third and created a chance for himself and then Deeney – but both efforts were excellently saved by Hennessey from close-range.
Adebayor nets first Palace goal to reinstate belief into Selhurst faithful
Palace did eventually find a way through a resolute Watford defence when Wickham’s cross was headed away, but the forward had another chance to put the ball into the box and Adebayor met it with a superb flying header that flew beyond the outstretched arm of Heurelho Gomes. The goal restored a sense of belief into a previously lifeless Selhurst.
A half-time substitution that involved Lee replacing Wickham saw Zaha switch to the left-hand side and Palace looked much better as a result of the tactical switch. Zaha created two wonderful opportunities for the Eagles to take the lead in the game; the first a low, driven cross which was met by the sliding Adebayor, but Gomes somehow batted the ball away from goal with his hand. The second chance saw Zaha once again dart down the left side and his cross was eventually cleared, however Jordon Mutch should have been on hand to tap in from inside the six-yard box.
Mutch then tested Gomes with a well-hit drive from 25 yards which the former Tottenham goalkeeper unconvincingly parried away for a corner, before Lee had a similar chance with a free-kick which resulted in a similar save from the Watford goalkeeper.
Calamitous defending costs Palace while Souare sees red
Fraizer Campbell replaced Mutch in an attempt to add further firepower to the Palace frontline, but this was ultimately exploited when Watford broke away and former Eagle Ben Watson supplied a cross for Deeney who, while unmarked at the back post, took a touch before slamming the ball low and beyond Hennessey in the 83rd minute. The goal was against the run of play as Palace had previously had the better chances in the second half, but once again the Eagles were caught slacking defensively.
Cabaye came mightily close to snatching a draw when he hit a well-controlled volley with his left foot but the ball agonisingly rebounded off the foot of the post.
Pape Souare’s horrible challenge on Valon Behrami late-on left Palace reduced to ten men and the Senegalese left back will now miss the next three games, which are crucial if Palace are to turn their current awful form around.