The search for Crystal Palace’s first win of 2016 continues after a 2-1 defeat at home to Watford overnight.
Watford scored first after Palace captain Mile Jedinak gave away a penalty for bringing down Troy Deeney, who was looking to get his head to a corner. Deeney stepped up to take the spot-kick and slotted it past Wayne Hennessey.
The hosts drew level approaching halftime thanks to a goal from new signing Emmanuel Adebayor. Returning from suspension, Connor Wickham found Adebayor with a cross from the edge of the box and the Togolese striker looped the ball into the net.
Despite Palace having multiple chances in the second-half to take the lead they were unable to capitalise and the Hornets struck late. Ben Watson put a cross into the box that found Deeney unmarked on the far post and the striker volleyed home for his second of the match.
Not only are Alan Pardew’s men looking still looking for their first win in the New Year, they will now be without defender Pape Souare for the next three games after he received a straight red card.
Crystal Palace now face a tough trip to West Bromwich Albion, while Watford return home to face fellow relegation battlers Bournemouth.
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Crystal Palace
Wayne Hennessey – 5: The goals conceded he could do little about, both coming from defensive mistakes in front of him.
Joel Ward – 5: Provided a lot going forward, but was a times beaten a little too easily by Nathan Ake.
Scott Dann – 5: A lapse of concentration saw Deeney unmarked at the far post for the winning goal, however, the defender did make some key blocks to prevent the score from being worse for Palace.
Damien Delaney – 5: Had a decent game against Odion Ighalo, but did at times give the striker too much space outside the box to lay off passes.
Pape Souare – 3: After already being 2-1 down late in the game, he really compounded the issues by earning a straight red for a two-footed tackle on Valon Behrami.
Wilfried Zaha – 6: Had a quiet first-half but after the break he was more energetic in trying to get past defenders, but unable to deliver consistently in the final-third.
Yohan Cabaye – 5: A poor game in terms of distribution, giving away the ball in dangerous positions and at times ruining the momentum that had been created
Mile Jedinak – 4: Spent the whole game trying to make up for his mistake that saw Watford take the lead through a penalty. but did make some key interventions in the midfield.
Jordon Mutch – 5: Did not really find his place in the game until Wickham was taken off at halftime and he was moved into a more central position. Was then able to provide some decent options for the midfield.
Connor Wickham – 6: Not a bad game for the striker, he just constantly found himself getting the ball out wide and not in areas he could try and score from.
Emmanuel Adebayor – 6: Scored the goal that brought the game level but was caught being lazy on multiple occasions, caught offside when he should not have been.
Substitutes
Lee Chung-yong – 6: When he came on to replace Wickham at halftime it gave Palace someone else to take set-pieces. Forced Gomes to make some saves
Fraizer Campbell – 5: Provided some chances late on but was fairly quiet otherwise.
Watford
Heurelho Gomes – 6: Made some good saves in the second-half to prevent Palace from taking the lead.
Nyom – 6: Worked hard to try and ensure that Zaha did not have any free space to get past him.
Craig Cathcart – 7: Was the man responsible for pushing Wickham out wide if he wanted the ball in the first-half and combined well with Sebastian Prodl to keep Adebayor fairly quiet in the second.
Sebastian Prodl – 6: Apart from having Adebayor out jump him in the first-half, the central-defender had a solid game against the big Togolese striker.
Nathan Ake – 6: The first-half was quiet for Ake in defence as Zaha could not get into the game, but he made some important runs in the second to try and help his side in attack.
Ben Watson – 7: Provided the assist for Deeney’s second goal and provided some really threatening set pieces.
Etienne Capoue – 6: Was strong in the centre of midfield, often getting across to try and put in tackles or intercept the wayward passing that Palace were providing.
Valon Behrami – 5: Had a quiet start to the game, but again was the recipient of some mistimed passing from Palace that help him get his side on the attack.
Nordin Amrabat – 5: Before being replaced he struggled to really assert himself into the game, only providing a couple of really good opportunities.
Troy Deeney – 8: A man of the match performance from the big striker, scoring both goals and winning a penalty in the lead up to his first.
Odion Ighalo – 7: Worked well in combination with Deeney, which provided both strikers with some opportunities to score.
Troy Deeney has now scored 5 goals from just 7 shots on target away from home in the Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/WePVpBCzZl
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 13, 2016
Substitutes
Akneb Abdi – 5: Was quiet but effective after coming off the bench to replace Amrabat.
Mario Suarez – 5: His only real impact on the game was getting booked for a soft foul on Ward.
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