Jordan Ayew has scored four goals in his last 11 Premier League games
Crystal Palace recorded a third successive Premier League victory as they beat relegation-threatened Watford to climb into the top half of the table.
Having scored the decisive goal against Brighton last weekend, Jordan Ayew proved the difference once more for Roy Hodgson's side as he converted his eighth league goal of the campaign with a smart finish from the edge of the penalty area after 28 minutes.
Watford started much the better side at Selhurst Park but attempts by Abdoulaye Doucoure and Will Hughes failed to trouble Vicente Guiata.
Palace, who also record a third straight clean sheet, went close through Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke's overhead kick during a scrappy second half which neither side was able to really seize control of.
Watford captain Troy Deeney's powerful strike from outside the box forced Guaita to tip over the bar - the Palace goalkeeper also equal to Doucoure's header as the hosts held out.
In a week when manager Hodgson signed a one-year contract extension, Palace rise to ninth, four points behind fifth-placed Wolves.
Although unable to build on last weekend's stunning 3-0 win over league leaders Liverpool, Watford remain outside of the relegation places, albeit on goal difference.
- Crystal Palace v Watford as it happened
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
31Guaita
2Ward
6Dann
24Cahill
3van Aanholt
8KouyatéBooked at 50mins
22McCarthy
18McArthurSubstituted forMilivojevicat 70'minutes
9J AyewBooked at 90mins
17BentekeBooked at 59mins
11ZahaBooked at 41mins
Substitutes
4Milivojevic
7Meyer
10Townsend
13Hennessey
15Schlupp
34Kelly
44Riedewald
Watford
26Foster
21FemeníaBooked at 31mins
27Kabasele
15Cathcart
11Masina
19HughesSubstituted forGrayat 84'minutes
29CapoueBooked at 50mins
23Sarr
16DoucouréBooked at 52mins
37PereyraSubstituted forPussettoat 74'minutesBooked at 85mins
9DeeneySubstituted forWelbeckat 74'minutes
Substitutes
1Gomes
4Dawson
6Mariappa
10Welbeck
14Chalobah
18Gray
33Pussetto
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Match Stats
Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamWatford
Possession
Home45%
Away55%
Shots
Home10
Away10
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home8
Away8
Fouls
Home12
Away16
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Watford 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Watford 0.
Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
Posted at 90'+6'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+5'
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Ignacio Pussetto.
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Christian Benteke with a through ball.
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+4'
Hand ball by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
Posted at 90'+2'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Luka Milivojevic.
Posted at 90'+1'
Offside, Crystal Palace. Vicente Guaita tries a through ball, but Christian Benteke is caught offside.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).
Posted at 89'
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 85'
Ignacio Pussetto (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Ignacio Pussetto (Watford).
Posted at 85'
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces Will Hughes.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Etienne Capoue (Watford).
Posted at 82'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 80'
Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 79'
Offside, Crystal Palace. Wilfried Zaha tries a through ball, but Christian Benteke is caught offside.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).
Posted at 77'
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 75'
Ignacio Pussetto (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Watford. Ignacio Pussetto replaces Roberto Pereyra.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Watford. Danny Welbeck replaces Troy Deeney.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Scott Dann with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Etienne Capoue (Watford).
Posted at 72'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Luka Milivojevic replaces James McArthur.
Posted at 69'
Attempt blocked. Will Hughes (Watford) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Etienne Capoue.
Posted at 68'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.
Posted at 68'
Attempt saved. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ismaila Sarr with a cross.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.
Posted at 65'
Attempt saved. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
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Source: bbc.com