Dee-saster
Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0: Troy Deeney’s calamitous own-goal sees Big Sam nab vital three points
Hornets captain headed in from a Yohan Cabaye free-kick to give Eagles a leg-up in their bid to beat the drop
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A DISASTROUS own-goal from Watford captain Troy Deeney handed all three points to Crystal Palace this afternoon.
A heated game at Selhurst Park saw the Hornets dominate possession, but it was Sam Allardyce's men who finished on the winning side to record their third victory on the bounce.
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Neither team created many opportunities in south-east London, with Wilfried Zaha and M'baye Niang the most threatening players on the field.
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The lack of chances saw some personal battles emerge before half-time, with Yohan Cabaye and Tom Cleverley going hammer-and-tongs in the centre of the park.
But it was Palace who edged ahead when Cabaye swung in a dangerous free-kick with just over 20 minutes to play.
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However, it was Deeney who met the set-piece with his head, with Heurelho Gomes left stranded as the ball went in off the post.
Palace's win sees them move two points clear of the drop zone as they prepare for a tough run of games against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
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Meanwhile, Watford miss the chance to move into 10th and will now be keeping a close eye on Leicester and Bournemouth behind them.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Sam Allardyce's first game in charge of Crystal Palace was a 1-1 draw away at Watford on Boxing Day. There was little to separate the two teams here either until Troy Deeney scored at the wrong end.
- Nordin Amrabat started on the bench after recovering from an ankle injury which had kept him out of the Watford squad since New Year's Day and then replaced Daryl Janmaat on the 63rd minute. Janmaat was himself back after a groin problem.
- Troy Deeney had scored four goals in his last three games against Palace before kick-off. Unfortinately for Watford he added to that tally - but with an own goal.
- The Eagles went on a break to Morocco over FA Cup weekend which clearly spiced up their game.
- Three wins in a row have given the Eagles hope of avoiding the drop.
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- This was a match Palace sorely needed to win as they still have all of the top six teams to play before the end of the season.
- Exactly a year ago Mamadou Sakho failed a drug test before being bombed out of Liverpool. He has rejuvenated his career under Sam Allardyce at Crystal Palace.
- Watford at least improved on their last outing when the conceded four goals at home to Southampton, paying the price for giving Saints far too much time and space on the ball.
- Wilfried Zaha looked lively but could not finish, lashing the ball over the bar just before half-time and then blasting wide on the 65th minute.
- Watford have won just two of their last 13 league matches and kept one clean sheet in the league since 29 October and just four overall.
THE BIG PICTURE
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Crystal Palace next five fixtures
Chelsea (A): 1 Apr – Prem
Southampton (A): 5 Apr – Prem
Arsenal (H): 10 Apr – Prem
Leicester (H): 15 Apr – Prem
Liverpool (A): 23 Apr – Prem
Watford next five fixtures
Sunderland (H): 1 Apr – Prem
West Brom (H): 4 Apr – Prem
Tottenham (A): 8 Apr – Prem
Swansea (H): 15 Apr – Prem
Hull (A): 22 Apr – Prem
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Ward 7, Tomkins 7 (Dann 6), Sakho 7, Schlupp 7, Cabaye 6 (Sako 6), Milivojevic 6, Zaha 7, Puncheon 6, Townsend 7 (Delaney 5), Benteke 6
Subs not used: Speroni, Campbell, Lee, Kelly
Goal: Deeney 68’ (OG)
Watford: Gomes 5, Cathcart 6, Prodl 6, Kaboul 6, Britos 7, Janmaat 6 (Amrabat 5), Cleverley 6 (Success 5), Behrami 6 (Doucoure 6), Capoue 6, Niang 6, Deeney 6
Subs not used: Zuniga, Holebas, Patilimon, Okaka
Booked: Cleverley, Prodl
Star man: Wilfried Zaha
SOCIAL SAYS
THEY SAID
Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce: "We had so many games over the Christmas and New Year period and injuries, the players were looking thinking ‘what does he want?’ We changed the backroom staff and are now starting implement our ideas and now are seeing the benefit.
";We are looking very solid. No doubt the biggest problem was the amount of goals we were conceding and now we are not conceding those goals.
"It is now four wins in six. We are getting there. This was a tough game, Watford recently won at Arsenal. We toughed it out and our quality paid off and we deserved the win."
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