THE Eagles won the battle of the promotion hopefuls at Vicarage Road this afternoon, as they broke the Watford rearguard twice after the break.

Chances fell for both sides but the visitors bided their time and caused havoc with their pace on the counter-attack to win the game outright. Their raw pace and power was contained until just after the 70th minute, but two goals within five minutes left the 'Orns with just too much to do to take anything from a game that they should have won.

The clash, until then, had seen opportunities for both teams to take hold of the game, but a combination of excellent saves and some misses in front of goal meant the scores were level at half time.

Neil Warnock's side looked confident throughout and the manager took the opportunity to use his bench options, and the introduction of Paul Ifill now appears an inspired one. 

The Hornets now must lick their wounds and regroup in time of the visit of Scunthorpe next Saturday. West Brom's victory means the Championship's top spot is out of reach - the Hornets have to react now and stop the season from slipping from their grasp.

No change... Aidy resisted the chance to meddle with the side

Aidy Boothroyd named an unchanged side from the one that came away from The Hawthorns with a point a week ago.

The Hornets included ex-Eagle Jobi McAnuff in their starting line-up, while Steve Kabba was on the bench against his former employers from Selhurst Park. Leigh Bromby was included to start against his former manager at Sheffield United, Warnock.

The Eagles came to town as one of the form teams in the division and were clinging onto the final play off position. Warnock has revitalised the south Londoners since the Golden Boys last met them in the league back in October.

With eight minutes on the clock the home side had the first real opportunity of the clash. Tommy Smith wriggled his way down the right hand flank and drew a ball back inside the penalty area. McAnuff was there to meet the ball perfectly, but only managed to direct his header just wide of Julian Speroni's right hand post.

Jobi McAnuff misses the first of a catalogue of chances

It would have been sweet for the winger, who had been on the end of some chants from the visiting supporters, and his involvement in the game grew as the half progressed.

Warnock's team still looked dangerous on the break and with plenty of pace in their side the Golden Boys had to be alert at all times. Lloyd Doyley had his work cut out containing Victor Moses, who was a livewire throughout the first period.

At the right time though, Doyley was more than a match and when Moses was bearing down on the Watford goal, Doyley edged his way in front of the youngster and cleared the danger. 

Then from the resulting throw-in, Jordan Stewart had to clear on the line from a dinked Clinton Morrison attempt just a few yards out. That proved to be the closest the visitors came to breaking the deadlock during the first 45.

Matt Lawrence was forced from the field for the visitors on 20 minutes - after making the game following a late fitness test - and he was replaced by Danny Butterfield.

The Hornets were taking time to settle but slowly but surely the chances started coming. First Darius Henderson's header went wide after Tamas Priskin was dragged down by Jose Fonte. This was the first caution of five before the break.

McAnuff again proved to be the one most likely to break the deadlock for the Hornets as his snap-shot was deflected wide for a corner. Then Shittu's header was cleared for another corner, while for the second corner kick Henderson's powerful well-directed header was ruled out by Howard Webb for a push.

Shittu heads goalwards as the first-half pressure grows

The referee was close to the packed penalty area and he blew his whistle immediately. With a host of bodies jostling for the ball he had no hesitation in ruling out the header despite plenty of the home crowd already being on their feet.

The temperature was now rising inside the Vic as the bookings started to add up. McAnuff was involved in the thick of the action and the chants directed at him seemed to spur him on against his former employers.  

Priskin was becoming more involved as the half went on as his link-up play with Henderson improved. The final chance of the half fell for the Hungarian as he latched on to Henderson's flick on but his effort was deflected for a corner.

The Golden Boys were quickly out of the traps after the interval with Henderson using his physical presence in the Palace penalty area.

Moses was again the threat for Warnock's men and after taking advantage of a quick break the winger carried the ball and fired a powerful drive over Richard Lee's bar and into the Vicarage Road stand.

The Golden Boys soon had the woodwork rattled in front of the Rookery stand. Doyley was found in space rampaging down the right flank and his cross to the far post found Henderson stretching towards the ball.

The ex-Gillingham man managed to connect with the ball and directed it back across goal - Priskin then got to the ball but saw his effort hit the bar much to the relief of the Palace defenders.

Priskin pushes forward but is thwarted by Palace's Fonte

Still the Eagles didn't look out of the game and loanee Scott Sinclair was at the heart of many of their counter-attacks on the day. His pace kept the 'Orns on their toes and it was surprising to see him withdrawn from the action with 66 minutes on the clock.

Just as the changes were taking place O'Toole's well placed drive was saved after Henderson and the Palace centre half got in a tangle inside the penalty area.

Smith gets sandwiched between Palace defenders

Ifill came on and five minutes after entering the field of play he was a hero to the travelling supporters.

The south Londoners took the lead when the ex-Milwall man found space in the box and his shot nestled in the back of the net after bouncing in off the post.

Then, just four minutes later the visitors had made it two as livewire Moses cut in from the right, used his pace to great effect before his low drive deflected in past Lee.

Boothroyd's men continued to bombard the Palace box but they couldn't find a way past Speroni and they looked deflated after two quick sucker-punches.

With two minutes remaining, Henderson's flick on was met by O'Toole and his looping shot was tipped over the bar by Speroni. But that proved to be the last opportunity for the 'Orns as the Eagles came away from Hertfordshire with three crucial points.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Stewart (Ellington 88), Shittu, Bromby, Doyley; Smith, O'Toole, Eustace (c), McAnuff (Sadler 71); Henderson, Priskin. Subs not used: DeMerit, Kabba, Williamson.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-5-1): Speroni; Lawrence (Butterfield 20), Hudson (c), Hill, Fonte; Moses, Soares, Derry, Watson, Sinclair (Ifill 66); Morrison (Fletcher 84). Subs not used: Hills, Scannell.

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; McAnuff (ungentlemanly conduct 32), O'Toole (professional foul 45+2), Henderson (deliberately handling the ball 90), Shittu (professional foul 90+1). CRYSTAL PALACE; Fonte (professional foul 22), Soares (professional foul 34), Butterfield (professional foul 45+1), Speroni (ungentlemanly conduct 45+2).    

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. CRYSTAL PALACE; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; none. CRYSTAL PALACE; Ifill (71), Moses (75). 

REFEREE: Mr H Webb.

ATTENDANCE: 17,694 (2,276 Crystal Palace supporters).

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