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Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 7, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

1-0

Ayew (28')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Jordan Ayew fires Crystal Palace to brink of safety

Victory allowed Roy Hodgson to celebrate his new contract.

Crystal Palace brought Watford back down to earth with a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park a week after the Hornets had stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Jordan Ayew's 28th-minute goal settled this fiery contest to move the Eagles onto 39 points – one off the magic total which usually guarantees top flight survival – and toast Roy Hodgson's new contract with a victory.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession, Nigel Pearson saw his side suffer a disappointing defeat which has them only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

While there were no pre-game handshakes between the players due to coronavirus fears, tackles were allowed and Cheikhou Kouyate felt the full force of Adam Masina's boot early on.

The Hornets, fresh from their stunning 3-0 triumph over champions-elect Liverpool, started strongest and went close on more than one occasion in the 13th minute.

First Abdoulaye Doucoure dribbled into the area and tested Vicente Guaita from a tight angle and then Ismaila Sarr's follow-up strike was deflected wide for a corner.

Palace's Spanish goalkeeper had to deal with the resulting set-piece, but his punch was poor and the ball dropped invitingly for Christian Kabasele, though his weak effort was blocked by Joel Ward.

Watford were dictating, with the hosts uncharacteristically sloppy on the ball and Hodgson's frustration on the touchline was visible.

That all changed in the 28th minute when Palace produced their first meaningful attack and went ahead through Ayew's eighth goal of the term.

After netting the winner at rivals Brighton last weekend, the Ghanaian rifled home from 20-yards this time after Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke and James McArthur had combined impressively.

It was now Watford who lacked composure, with Kiko Femenia booked soon after for a foul on Zaha and the scrappy nature of the opening exchanges returned with Zaha cautioned for pulling back Etienne Capoue in the 41st minute.

The Ivorian's history with the Hornets was well documented and the rivalry between the two teams had grown since their meeting in the Championship play-off final in 2013, which was decided by a penalty won by the winger.

The second half was only three minutes old when the Capoue and Zaha feud continued, with the former bringing down the Palace man.

As referee Anthony Taylor tried to restore order, the Watford midfielder lowered his head into the face of the Eagles number 11, who reacted by pushing Capoue's head away. VAR reviewed the the incident, but deemed neither violent conduct.

Cautions were being handed out regularly now, but the focus was back on football when Zaha was denied by Ben Foster's legs in the 56th minute.

Down the other end, Roberto Pereyra had a weak shot saved by Guaita after Scott Dann blocked Troy Deeney's goalbound effort.

The Hornets captain was denied an equaliser with 65 on the clock, when the Palace custodian produced a wonderful finger-tip save.

Guaita was at it again three minutes later to thwart Doucoure's header and although Pearson introduced Danny Welbeck and Ignacio Pussetto with 16 minutes left, the hosts held on for a third consecutive 1-0 victory.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Crystal Palace257992932-330
13Everton257992731-430
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389


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