Watford vs Crystal Palace: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage of today’s Premier League action from Vicarage Road
- Palace are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Watford at Vicarage Road since a 2-0 defeat in the Championship in February 2009
- Watford have lost just once in their last nine league matches at home, winning five and drawing three
- If striker Troy Deeney finds the net it will be his 100th goal for Watford in all competitions
- Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has failed to score or assist in any of his previous six top-flight appearances against Watford
WATFORD vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Watford XI: Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Holebas, Kabasele, Capoue, Doucoure, Hughes, Pereyra, Gray, Deeney.
Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milovojevic, Schlupp, McArthur, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke.
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
BENTEKKERS
13:10: The faith Roy Hodgson shows in Christian Benteke is genuinely touching.
The Belgium international scored three times in 31 games for the Eagles last season. And that was after a £27million arrival… But no statistics or cost/reward equation is going to sway Roy.
“Unfortunately when you are a front player and you are signed for relatively big money and you are a big-name player, if you are not scoring goals unfortunately you are always going to be under that microscope,” said Hodgson.
“But there is nothing we can really do to help him other than to show our confidence in him and hope the break will come one, he will get that goal and it will lead to a flood of goals.”
HISTORY
13:05: Watford will be looking to win their opening three games of a league season for only the fourth time in their history. They have previously done so in 1988-89, 1997-98 and 1998-99 – finishing in the top five in each of those seasons.
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
‘BAD RESULTS WILL ARRIVE’
13:00: I guess that’s one way of motivating your side, Javi…
The Watford manager has warned his players to prepare for when their results decline.
“It will be better to start with the coach you know from the last season. You don’t need time to adapt to new things, new training, new situations,” Gracia said. “To do a good job in pre-season was important to have the possibility in these games to compete at the level we did.
“The spirit is important; we create a style of play where the players feel comfortable, where they feel part of something. We’ve created an atmosphere and we are showing all our features. It is always important to start well. We have played only two games and they are two important wins, but it’s only two games. It’s only the beginning.
“It’s a good moment for us, but I know we need to keep calm and know bad results will arrive in the future and it will be better to arrive there with not only good results, but having created something we can believe in. The most important thing is the quality of players. I cannot tell you if in two or four games we may change.”
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
TWITTER ROUND-UP
Lindsey: Troy Deeney to score a header and Crystal Palace to score a penalty is 200/1. If past fixtures are anything to go by then this is as guaranteed as having a dinner!
Liam: Would’ve liked to see Max Meyer start today but I guess nobody has done anything to warrant dropping in the last two games.
Matt: So annoying hearing Watford vs Crystal Palace being referred to as a “London Derby.” Watford ain’t in London and ain’t a London team!
Steady on, Matt. True enough, Liam. And where are you seeing those odds, Lindsey?!
WET…
12:50: Wrap up warm and grab an umbrella if you’re going to Vicarage Road today, folks. It’s filthy out there. D’ya remember when we were complaining about it being 28 degrees and sunny? Fools!
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
BEE-HAVE
12:45: OK, the pun doesn’t work because Harry the Hornet is indeed a Hornet and not a Bee. Just let me have this one…
Roy Hodgson hopes no one at Watford will “provoke the crowd” to reignite last season’s storm of diving claims that surrounded Wilfried Zaha.
Watford mascot Harry the Hornet dived on the pitch in a move that hyped up diving claims around Palace forward Zaha in the 1-1 Premier League draw at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day 2016.
“If you’re asking me whether Harry the Hornet, who I presume is the mascot, should dive in that way, I think it’s disgraceful,” said Hodgson. “Because that’s not what football matches are about.
“And certainly if it’s provoking the crowd into looking for something that’s not there, it should be stopped.”
It was two years ago but Roy still sounds sore if you ask me.
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
WATFORD vs CRYSTAL PALACE
12:35: Isn’t it nice when things are simple. There is just one enforced change in total this afternoon with Joel Ward replacing the suspended Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was sent off against Liverpool on Monday.
That means summer signing Max Meyer will have to wait another week for his first competitive start for the Eagles. Jairo Riedewald replaces Ward on the bench.
Watford manager Javi Gracia has named an unchanged side to the one that beat Burnley. And why would he after their perfect start to the season.
Troy Deeney continues in attack with Andre Gray alongside him.
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
WATFORD vs CRYSTAL PALACE
12:30: And here are your line-ups for today’s showdown folks. Is “showdown” too strong for this dreary lunchtime kick off?
Watford XI: Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Holebas, Kabasele, Capoue, Doucoure, Hughes, Pereyra, Gray, Deeney.
Subs: Gomes, Prodl, Mariappa, Success, Masina, Sema, Femenia.
Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milovojevic, Schlupp, McArthur, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke.
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
AFTERNOON
12:25: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Watford vs Crystal Palace from Vicarage Road.
How’s everyone feeling today? It’s cold, wet and fairly miserable outside. Perfect conditions for eating you bodyweight in roast dinners and watching football.
Just me? Alright then…
Watford are hoping to maintain the winning start that has so far featured impressive victories at Burnley and over Brighton.
And what letter comes after ‘B’ in the alphabet, folks? It’s in the stars…
Let’s get going!
Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
WATFORD vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Watford again have Stefano Okaka available for selection following his recovery from a leg injury. Nathaniel Chalobah and Gerard Deulofeu are not yet match fit while Miguel Britos has a knock and sits out alongside long-term absentee Tom Cleverley (Achilles).
Crystal Palace are without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who serves a one-match ban after his red cad against Liverpool. Joel Ward and Martin Kelly are boss Roy Hodgson’s options to slot in at right-back.
Last season: Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0, Crystal Palace 2 Watford 1
Last five league matches: Watford L W L W W; Crystal Palace W W W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Roberto Pereyra (Watford) 2; Jeff Schlupp & Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 1
Referee: Anthony Taylor