Below-par Hornet's brought back down to earth

After comfortably winning two games on the bounce at Vicarage Road, Watford were brought back down to earth at the hands of Crystal Palace yesterday, the Eagles running out three nil winners.

The ideal way for everybodies favourite motormouth, Neil Warnock to celebrate his 100th game in charge of Crystal Palace, and some classic Warnock bullyboy tactics were employed very successfully against the Hornet's youthful looking lineup.

With Don Cowie sidelined through a knock picked up in midweek, Jon Harley was promoted back into the starting lineup, starting at left midfield in the Scot's absence. Such was the lack of depth in the Hornet's squad of late, even Mat Sadler made the bench for the first time this season! There was no room however for Will Hoskins amongst the subs.

Palace got off to the perfect start, a big hoof forward found the head of nomadic striker Alan Lee, whose forearm managed to consequently find Craig Cathcart's face, allowing a perfect flick into the path of Victor Moses. The nippy striker then rounded Lee Hodson and Aidy Mariappa before firing past Loach into the far bottom corner.

Just four minutes later it was two for Palace and doors for the Hornet's as Danny Butterfield picked out a perfect cross for Lee to again rise highest and nod home. Poor defensive work from Doyley who allowed the Eagles full back to drive on without pressure before picking a perfect cross for the rotund Irishman.

And, Watford's shooting of one's own foot continued just a minute before half time as Golden Danny Graham missed from twelve yards. Lee, hero turned villain bundled over Henri Lansbury after good work down the right from the Arsenal youngster and up stepped Graham whose lax penalty was stopped by 'the best goalkeeper in the world', Julian Speroni.

Half Time: 2-0

Just nine minutes into the second half the defeat was complete, dangerman Darren Ambrose left with the time and space to pick out the top right-hand corner of Scott Loach's net from just outside the penalty area. A little bit of history for Ambrose who notched for the sixth consecutive game.

It's Newcastle away next week...gulp!

Watford
Loach; Hodson, Mariappa (c), Cathcart, Doyley; Cleverley, Lansbury, Eustace, Harley(Ellington); Helguson
(Henderson); Graham.

Crystal Palace
Speroni; Butterfield, Fonte, Davis, Hill; Ambrose, Derry, Danns, Ertl; Moses(Smith 82), Lee(Andrew 76).

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