Crystal Palace - 1 (Morrison 61.)
Watford - 0

Palace went into this match boasting nine games undefeated whilst Watford were lamenting four straight losses. We were obviously in no mood for there to be a change to the proceedings, and we proudly marched on to make it ten games without defeat. Watford will need to urgently rethink their tactics, and their ability to score goals if they wish to get back on track for the Premiership. Once considered the only possible threat to Fulham in the Championship race they are quickly falling back through the table.

Whilst one could never say that this was the most pleasing match to watch a true Palace supporter can always put up with a scrappy game, and the cold weather, as long as results such as this keep coming our way.

The sides kicked off under the direction of Mr Roger Furnandiz, and it was Tommy Mooney that made the early running, forcing Alex Kolinko to make two fine stops in the early minutes. Tommy Black then fired in an answer for Palace, but again it was Mooney that cleared the goalward bound shot - he seemed to be everywhere early on in the match. Gradually Palace were starting to exert the pressure, and Hayden Mullins, who has just signed a new four year contract, shaved the woodwork with a sweetly timed shot. Clinton Morrison then found himself very wide of the goal with no help in the middle. His shot went just wide of the mark. Alex then made two more saves, from Mooney and Tommy Smith, and the first half was rapidly running down.

The break arrived almost before anyone was aware, and though it would be fair to say that Palace had not had the best of the exchanges they had certainly denied Watford most of their chances at our end of the field, and had made life somewhat difficult for the visitors at odd moments. A few weeks ago Palace would have happily settled for a point from this fixture, but during the break Alan Smith would have been quietly urging the team to get out there and get the full three points.

Watford came out for the second half, and for a moment the Palace faithful must have imagined that the home side thought they had done enough and gone down the pub to celebrate! Where was the team? Perhaps it was just Watford anxious to get on with it, and Palace playing a little gamesmanship to make them wait? Appear they did though, and during the second half of play Watford rarely tested Alex in goal, a testimony to the hard defending of Fan Zhiyi and Neil Ruddock. At the other end though Black was making life very difficult for the visitors, and the writing appeared to be on the wall that a single goal would finally settle this match.

Shortly after the restart Black fired in a shot from 25 yards out, a fine reflex save from Espen Baardsen denying him the opening goal at the last moment. The goal was coming though, and just on the one-hour mark it duly appeared.

A corner to Palace, taken by Black, was totally messed up by Mikael Forssell, but Black, following up his kick, sent the ball back into the area. Clinton, only eight yards out, pounced on the ball and managed to scramble it home, and finally we were in the lead. Not the best goal ever scored at Selhurst Park by any stretch of the imagination, but we will certainly accept it happily.

Heidar Helguson really should have done better with about the only chance that he got in this period. A pass from Paul Robinson found the Icelander approaching the goal. With only Alex to beat he hit his shot tamely straight to the keeper, and Palace were off again on the break.

Dougie Freedman came on as substitute, and from practically his first touch he should have made it two. Clinton just missed a sliding touch that would have sealed the match. Allan Nielsen then fired a reply straight to Alex in goal once again.

The dying minutes of the game very nearly saw Dougie add the second. A pass from Clinton came straight to him, but the heroics of Baardsen tipped the ball over the bar to save the day, and Palace had to settle for the single goal. Of course, we will settle for that any day of the week, and a repeat of the scoreline against Sunderland on Tuesday will be more than welcome. Well done lads, let's make it 11 matches without a defeat!

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Dean Austin, Fan Zhiyi Neil Ruddock, Jamie Smith, Tommy Black, Jamie Pollock (Simon Rodger 81), Andrew Frampton, Mikael Forssell (Dougie Freedman 63), Hayden Mullins, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Steve Thomson, Wayne Carlisle, Craig Harrison.

Watford: Espen Baardsen, Neil Cox, Paul Robinson, Robert Page, Steve Palmer, Darren Ward, Micah Hyde (Stephen Armstrong 79), Allan Nielsen, Heidar Helguson, Tommy Mooney, Tommy Smith (Gifton Noel-Williams 69).

Substitutes not used: Alec Chamberlain, Nordin Wooter, James Panayi.

Attendance: 16,049

Referee: Mr R Furnandiz (Doncaster).