Watford produced one of their worst performances of the season in front of their home crowd as they went down to Crystal Palace two-nil at Vicarage Road.
Watford, who recalled Scott Loach in goal and started with newly-signed loan winger Michael Kightly, were on the back foot early on with Palace keeping the ball nicely but failing to create any clear cut opportunities.
Watford come closest after that with some good work between Kightly and Joe Garner with Garner turning a defender and unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that bounced back off the post.
The first half petered out into a rather scrappy affair with neither side creating any real chances, the closest Palace came was a weak shot from Jonathan Parr after a good run from Wilfred Zaha.
Half Time
The second half started much life the first half ended with neither side really grabbing the initiative. John Eustace wasted a decent chance for Watford when he headed straight at Julien Speroni from the penalty spot after a good cross from Carl Dickinson.
Watford suffered a blow on the hour when Martin Taylor crumpled to the floor after challenging for a ball in the Palace area and had to be replaced by David Mirfin.
Just five minutes later Palace took the lead through Zaha. After Watford lost possession midway inside the Palace half the visitors broke clear and Sean Scannell released Wilfred Zaha and he unleashed a cracking shot from the corner angle of the penalty area into the far corner past Scott Loach.
Watford tried to respond by bringing on Mark Yeates and Chris Iwelumo but failed to conjure up the final pass required to break down the dogged Palace rearguard.
One minute into the three added on Palace wrapped up the points with another fine goal. Having left players forward Watford were left short at the back when Jermaine Easter picked the ball up midway in the Hornets half. He carried the ball to the edge of the box before producing another fine finish into the top corner.
Full Time
Watford 0-2 Crystal Palace
Watford: Loach, Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor (Mirfin), Dickinson, Kightly, Hogg, Eustace, Forsyth (Yeates), Sordell (Iwelumo), Garner
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ramage, McCarthy, Wright, Clyne, Parr (Gardner), Tunchev, Scannell (Easter), Dikgacoi (Jedinak), Zaha, Murray
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More bad news, Tiny Taylor has done some real damage to his shoulder, not sure if he has sustained a fracture as well as the dislocation, but I understand he is going to BUPA tomorrow for an operation which will require screws bing placed in him.. So I don’t expect him to be back this side of Christmas.
Amongst the last things we need! Hope you’ve been given bogus information Andy.
No mate, afraid not, his dislocation was a real bad one and he is definatly going for an op at BUPA tomorrow. Pretty quiet on here for comments on the game. Did any one notice lennie lawrence giving the Palace manager advice? Wouldn’t it be nice if SD had some one to help. I just don’t see what the team are trying to achieve out there.
Yes it IS quiet on here with comments about the game. Probably ‘cos its difficult to know what to say that’s positive.
Last season (the first half of) we had Jordan Mutch and Don Cowie threading the ball through, creating chances. In the main, since Mutch and Taylor left, we have looked a relegation haunted team, even the end of last season was poor for results.
My point is that since then, we don’t appear to have anyone who has the ingenuity to open up defences. There were hardly any good balls through the Palace defence today.
Thought Kightly tried very hard though. Which is more than I can say for our England U21 international.
Feeling rather depressed about it all.
Well that is bad news re. Tiny then. Mirfin will have to step up quickly. Yes, SD definitely needs an experienced No.2 alongside him. Something has to change ASAP because at this rate we aren’t going anywhere quickly, but down.
We don’t have any strengths.. gk,def,mid or forw.. We cant defend & dont make chances or score… The highlight for me was the ref falling on JE… That’s it… rubbish rubbish….
To be fair the defence has worked hard, the fact the ball is not being held for any length of time up front, puts pressure on the defence. I don’t think the squad we have is all that bad, they just need to be told and given guidance. Do you think they will sack Dyche and allow a new manager to come in and get rid of the existing players?