Hornets held at home by Eagles

Crystal Palace battled back from a goal down to earn a point against Watford at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets made four changes from Saturday’s dissapointing home defeat by Brighton in the FA Cup with Loach, Eustace, Townsend and Weimann replacing Gilmartin, Mingoia, Deeney and Sordell.

Following a dull opening Watford took the lead with the first chance for either side. Andros Townsend went on a mazy run down the left and crossed for Weimann to control and shoot into the bottom corner.

The game continued to offer little for the neutral with Watford finding it difficult to open up Crystal Palace on the Vicarage Road surface. The only Palace chance fell to Darren Ambrose whose free kick was comfortbaly saved by Scott Loach.

Palace equalised just before half time. Townsend gave the ball away following a Watford attack and Neil Danns broke away and played in James Vaughan who shrugged of Adrian Mariappa before smashing the ball into the top corner.

Second Half

It was Watford who continued prodding and pushing at the Palace defence in the second half without much luck. Andy Weimann had a low shot comfortably saved while John Eustace’s long range effort forced Speroni into a much smarter save.

As the fog rolled in Watford had one last chance to win it when Martin Taylor came mighty close with a header from substitute Matt Whichelow’s corner but the game ended all square.

Watford – Loach, Hodson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley, Buckley (Whitchelow), McGinn, Eustace, Townsend (Drinkwater), Weimann (Deeney), Graham

Crystal Palace – Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Barrett, Wright, Danns, Marrow, Parsons, Zaha (Scannell), Ambrose (Davis), Vaughan (Easter)