Hard fought wins are sometimes the best, and Palace's 1-0 win over Watford is one of those. Mark Gardiner reviews the action for us.
Having spent the weekend rehashing old battles, it was appropriate that the Vicarage Road Re-enactment Society staged a re-run of that old perennial favourite, the Championship Play-Off Final of 2013. It has to be said that both teams got the colours more or less right, and the amount of coordination required to commit a foul on the same player as at Wembley in near-enough the right spot on the pitch brings credit to all involved. Of course, the penalty was smashed home with the same panache of KP. You can’t beat the old favourites!
The Palace team news brought ripples of apprehension to the away terrace. Dann was back to replace the stricken Delaney – no problem there – but McArthur & Zaha dropped to the bench to be replaced by Ledley and hat-trick hero / clown vanquisher Gayle, while Hennessey, who had not had any real opportunity to prove himself in two League Cup ties, replaced Alex McCarthy in goal. The bench hinted at a slight injury crisis with youngsters Gray & Croll joining the usual suspects. For the first half at least Bolasie played on the left, while at first Puncheon was on the right, but he kept switching inside with Sako. Ledley sat a little deeper allowing Cabaye to play a little further up the pitch, and in turn the Sako / Puncheon role was shifted a little more towards Gayle. It allowed a little more flexibility in attack and did give Gayle more support.
The first half was interesting with both teams keen to play on the counter at pace, yet it produced very few chances. Bolasie had nearly run through the entire Watford team from the kick-off only to finish with a shot so wildly off-target I’m sure the throw-in was taken further back than he shot from! After that Palace’s best efforts came from two Cabaye free kicks on the left side, one somehow being scrapped off the line (my Sky source in Lancashire assures me it was a Gomes save from a Hangeland header) and another zipping straight across the face of goal without finding an attacking touch. On the attack Cabaye & Gayle earned a lot of rough treatment but referee Taylor adopted a softly-softly approach. In attack Watford also looked to use the flanks, in part because Ledley & Cabaye protected the middle so well, while Dann was organising the defence and Hangeland was just superb. Souaré had some problems down the left, but the real issue looked to be on the right where Anya (their right back) cruised past on the outside several times. However I can only recall one Deeney header well wide but otherwise Hennessey remained essentially untroubled, until stoppage time when a dangerous free kick ion the edge of our box was deflected over by the wall.
Second half started as the first ended with another Watford free kick on the edge of our box. This time Jurado beat the wall & Hennessey; luckily the ball struck the underside of the bar & bounced out. Wayne soon had to make a good if not difficult save from Abdi and from a corner the ball bounced all around our box without finding a Hornet. Yet Palace were coming more into the game, as Sako, who had remained anonymous for much of the first half, but at the interval switched to the left with Bolasie on the right, began to win the off physical tussle with Nyom. Palace had used plenty of balls over the top for the speedy front three (occasionally four with Puncheon) in the first half but too many were over hit; the success ratio was far better and in one swift break Gayle was once again hacked down; Sako’s free kick wasn’t venomous but was partially blocked by the wall and had to be shovelled past the post by the keeper. As the game stretched Puncheon became more of a creative force; Sako worked in from the left and his cross was met at the far post by Gayle who struck the post – it was a good chance and the finish just wasn’t good enough.
That was Sako’s last real contribution and he was replaced by Zaha, who with the help of Souaré made several incursions down our left. When our left back once again played Wilf in on the left edge of the box d Nyom, who had got away with several holding offences, was lured into a fatal lunge; obviously not watched the DVD of that Play-Off. Surprisingly it was Cabaye who emulated the immortal Kevin Phillips by smashing the ball high to a despairing keeper’s left. The scorer soon departed for McArthur, Pardew perhaps influenced by a booking as Mr. Taylor started to scatter yellow cards all over the place; perhaps someone had reminded him of them. Gayle nearly grabbed a second, Wilf’s cross & Bolasie’s far post header back setting him up, but the finish was knocked just wide, while Puncheon’s free kick was straight at Gomes. Gayle again was just off-target when set up by Puncheon, and that was his last kick as Campbell came on. Watford huffed and puffed: Wilf took a booking for the team with a foul after conceding possession, but that symptomatic of how hard he and the other attacking players worked hard back in defence. Watford barely saw Hennessey’s goal let alone having a direct shot – one block by Ledley was stunningly beautiful in its own way. At the end Palace were probably deserving of the win.
Hennessey – 6 – Had little to do; there was one good save offset by losing an easy through ball that gave us kittens, although not as many as when in the shoot-in he’d let one ball go through all of him into the net. Moments of miscommunication with his defenders but deserves a run of games to prove his mettle.
Kelly – 5 – The one player whose performance gave cause for concern he really struggled, especially when Anya was on an overlap. His passing at times was shoddy and he put at least one straightforward header straight to an opponent.
Souaré – 7 – Had a little trouble in the first half when Watford occasionally overloaded the left; I’m a little troubled by his positioning when the opposition has a spare man over, as Pape seems to prefer staying in the box awaiting events instead of being closer on his man. It may prevent the ball inside him, but it also gives the attacker precious micro-seconds when they receive the ball before they can be closed down. On the other hand, I haven’t seen a better attacking left-back since Ashley Cole’s loan spell, and before that Kenny Sansom, and Pape played a part in the move that won the penalty.
Dann – 7 – Defence looked so much more organised with Scott at the back; Deeney and Ighalo were barely a factor in the match.
Hangeland – 8 – Apart from finding Mr. Taylor being conned on a regular basis by Deeney making a back, Brede was outstanding at the back, and left out those coronary-inducing decisions to dribble around their centre forward inside our box! Impressive in the air and with the timing of his tackles. Denied a goal by Gomes at close range.
Ledley – 7 – Fine first League start of the season by Joe who helped shield the defence from Abdi & Watson. The odd pass & header did go astray but won a lot of ball and allowed Cabaye a little more freedom.
Cabaye – 7 – Excellent first half when he was the creative force in Palace’s attacks, and two free kicks should have set up goals. Not so prominent in the second until deciding it was his turn for the KP impression. Picked up a booking – ironic considering how often he was kicked in the first half – and substituted soon after.
Sako – 6 – Started in the hole but that didn’t quite work; switched to the right and was a little better, but didn’t really show until just before half-time. Switched to the left he started the second half impressively, setting up a chance Gayle should have put home and then seeing his free kick saved untidily. Given that improvement it was a surprise he was soon replaced by Zaha.
Bolasie – 7 – As is his wont Yannick flickered at times, summed up in the first 10 seconds when his sublime run was followed by the ridiculous finish. Worked well with Souaré down the left and frightened Nyom with his pace. Switched to the right second half where he wasn’t quite as effective – maybe the lack of full-back support? – but nearly set up a goal for Gayle and a late shot dipped just too late.
Puncheon – 7 – Grew more into the game after switching from right flank to the position as support striker, certainly in the second half he played a lot closer to Gayle than usual. His touch & vision in the second half sparked several attacks from the wing or Gayle.
Gayle- 7 – Performance deserved a goal but his finishing was slightly off, the best chance hitting woodwork when he should really have scored. Took some harsh treatment from the defenders but was always troubling them with his pace.
Zaha – 7 – Posed a different form of threat to Nyom that Sako and it paid dividends. Equally impressive was his tracking back and challenges.
McArthur – 6 – Good defensive work in midfield.
Campbell – 6 – Late sub who had a couple of touches.