Tag Archives: Crystal Palace

7th May 2022- Premier League, Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0

This defeat confirmed our relegation back to the Championship after just one season. In the week before the game was played Roy Hodgson confirmed that he would be retiring from football management at the end of the season, however in March 2023 he was once again appointed as Crystal Palace manager.

Attendance: 24,622

BBC Sport: Watford have been relegated from the Premier League after Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty secured a deserved victory for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Sky Sports: Despite plenty of pre-match pleasantries, it was an unhappy return for Roy Hodgson to Selhurst Park – back at the club for the first time since his departure as manager last summer – with his side’s return to the Championship confirmed on Saturday afternoon.

The Guardian: Not for the first time this season, their downfall was self-induced. Kamara misjudged his jump in an attempt to clear Eze’s cross to the back post and Olise’s header struck the Ivory Coast defender’s outstretched arm. Kamara claimed that he had been pushed but despite replays showing there had been slight contact, referee Graham Scott was vindicated after the incident was checked by VAR and Zaha made no mistake from the spot.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The game went from bad to worse as Kamara knocked Olise over and was dismissed for a second yellow card.  Hodgson decided that the defence was more important than the attack as he reacted to the sending off by bringing Masina on for Dennis.  It was immediately obvious that not all among the travelling faithful agreed with him.  Palace also made a substitution bringing Mitchell on for Guehi.  Hodgson’s final change saw Troost-Ekong replacing Samir to loud boos from the away end.  Palace had a decent chance when Eze went on a threatening run, but Cathcart did well to block his cross.  At the other end, a Sema shot was blocked for a corner from which Femenía’s delivery was met by the head of Cathcart whose effort flew over the bar.  Viera’s final substitution saw Mateta on in place of Zaha.  The home side had a great chance to increase their lead when the substitute met an Olise free kick with a header that needed a decent save from Foster to keep it out, Mateta got his head on the rebound, but his effort was wide of the target.  A rare bright moment for the Hornets came as Sema released King who crossed for Sarr but he failed to connect.  The home side had one final chance to increase their lead when Schlupp went on a run before unleashing a shot that was stopped by Foster.  Soon after, the final whistle went, and Watford’s relegation was confirmed. 

After the game Roy Hodgson was criticised by a number of Watford fans for failing to acknowledge the away support whilst taking the applause of the home fans upon his return to Selhurst Park. TV cameras also caught him smiling moments after the game ended when our relegation was confirmed.

SportsBible: Watford Fans Annoyed After Roy Hodgson Applauds Crystal Palace Fans

Watford Observer: Hodgson explains reason for not acknowledging Hornets fans after relegation

23rd February 2022- Premier League, Watford 1 Crystal Palace 4

WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1

Attendance::20,012

BBC Sport: Wilfried Zaha scored two late goals to wrap up the points for Patrick Vieira’s side after Conor Gallagher had put them ahead in the first half.

Sky Sports: Palace opened the scoring through Jean-Philippe Mateta (15), who was handed a stroke of good fortune when his left-footed shot on the turn struck the back of Kiko Femenia and flew past the wrong-footed Ben Foster. But instead of getting mad, Watford got even, levelling the scores when Femenia’s wicked inswinging corner was powered home by Moussa Sissoko (17). 

The Guardian: “We certainly weren’t inferior in terms of our play between the penalty areas,” Hodgson said. “What was different was what Palace did when they had the ball around our penalty area and what we did when we had the ball around theirs.”

24th August 2021- League Cup Second Round, Watford 1 Crystal Palace 0

WFC.NET Jon Marks goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 9,011

BBC Sport: Watford, who only had one shot in the first half, improved after the break with Troost-Ekong and Hernandez both having chances before the latter found space down the left swing, cut back and curled over a delightful cross for Fletcher, who joined the club on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough this summer, to poke home.

Official site: Supporters enjoyed the first fixture under the lights of the new campaign, and although there wasn’t much action to speak of until the finish, a positive atmosphere buzzed around Vicarage Road throughout.

BHappy: I’d resigned myself to penalties, I suspect I wasn’t the only one… gazing across the pitch and wondering who might be up for a spot kick when suddenly one of those breaks connected, like a misfiring engine that suddenly, unexpectedly, clicks into gear.  Rose fed Cucho on the left, the Colombian cut a tremendous cross through to the far post where Fletcher was hurtling in to tuck the ball home.  The vigour of the celebration testified to the popularity of the goalscorer in the dressing room – whatever his future involvement there are worse ways to debut than scoring a late winner against Palace.

From the Rookery End: As Watford defeat Crystal Palace in the League Cup, Jon, Mike and DCW look at the player who impressed and who might be staking a claim for a starting spot in the Premier League.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_EFL_Cup

7th August 2021- Friendly, Crystal Palace 3 Watford 1

Official site: Watford’s pre-season schedule ended in defeat at Selhurst Park, as goals from Wilfried Zaha and a late Christian Benteke header sealed victory for Crystal Palace.

Palace official site: Watford did manage to pull one back when substitute Troy Deeney curled an effort in via a deflection to earn his side a consolation.

7th March 2020- Premier League, Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0

Leave a Reply
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 25,461

Match Report: Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford

Pearson: “We’ll Bounce Back”

Watford lose by one goal away at Crystal Palace

Jordan Ayew goal condemns Watford to Crystal Palace defeat

Nigel Pearson’s laments Watford’s missed chances in Crystal Palace defeat

Watford players rated after Crystal Palace defeat

Craig Cathcart felt Watford deserved points in Crystal Palace defeat

Cathcart insists Watford are still confident after Crystal Palace defeat

Crystal Palace recorded a third successive Premier League victory as they beat relegation-threatened Watford to climb into the top half of the table.

In a bitty and niggly encounter with eight yellow cards, including one for Wilfried Zaha who was in the thick of things not for the first time against Watford, Jordan Ayew’s stunning first-half goal (28) separated the teams.

The match had begun in the style of two zealously polite individuals standing in a doorway; after you, sir; no, please, after you. With both teams preferring to counterattack, neither really wanted the ball. For a while this suited Watford better as they created the early chances. But the clarity they showed in driving forward was not matched by decisiveness in front of goal.

So, after the euphoria of last week, this was an unwelcome return to what has been the reality of most of this season.  It was a very disappointing game.  The Hornets had been the better team for most of the first half but, as so often this season, did not make the most of their chances and the home side scored after a counterattack.  Once they were ahead, Palace defended well and, apart from a brief spell in the second half, Watford never really looked like winning the point that their performance deserved.  Thankfully results elsewhere meant that we stayed out of the relegation zone on goal difference, but it felt like a wasted opportunity and, again, I worry that we won’t get the points that we need from the upcoming “winnable” games.

The morning after Watford visited Selhurst, Jon, Mike and Colin (via Skype on a train) discuss the inclusion of Roberto Pererya on the left, how the team could break down teams better and if there is much need for tinkering… Oh and corners. Plus they share their thoughts and worries about a potential new stadium for the Hornets, as reported by Adam Leventhal on the Athletic this week.