Almunia ‘Man-of-the-Match’ v Crystal Palace

Vital Watford readers voted Manuel Almunia their ‘Man-of-the-Match’ for his performance in the 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.

The 36 year-old Spaniard was in impeccable form as he denied Aaron Wilbraham, Stuart O’Keefe and Owen Garvan, among others, with a string of fine stops.

With 63 per cent of the vote, the former Arsenal man was the runaway winner of the vote.

Almunia was eventually beaten in the 105th minute when former Hornet Kevin Phillips struck the game-winning penalty.

In second spot was Lloyd Doyley, who scooped 28 per cent of the vote for what was yet another commanding display at the back.

Doyley excelled at centre-half once more and rescued the Hornets on a couple of occasions with last-ditch blocks.

Rounding off the top three were Fernando Forestieri and bizarrely, Marco Cassetti, with each man scooping 2 per cent of the vote.

Forestieri was a menace after coming on for Ikechi Anya in the 86th minute, but Cassetti was poor throughout, giving away the penalty with a trip on Wilfried Zaha.