PREM: Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford

Craig Cathcart celebrates his goal with team-mate Troy Deeney

Watford produced a second-half comeback to take all three points against Crystal Palace, winning 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

A huge scramble in the Watford area saw the ball turned home by Craig Cathcart's thigh (38) to put Crystal Palace ahead, with goal-line technology confirming it had gone over the line.

But the defender redeemed himself in the 67th minute as he nodded home the Watford equaliser before a wonderful volley from Tom Cleverley (74) completed the comeback and handed the visitors the victory.

Watford have moved into seventh on 32 points while Crystal Palace stay in 14th, six points clear of the relegation places.

Watford could have taken the lead inside five minutes but were twice denied by the post. Gerard Deulofeu burst past the Crystal Palace defence before trying to hit home on the angle, but his effort smacked against the far post before an unmarked Roberto Pereyra did the same with the rebound.

Neither side really created much else until the 36th minute, when Watford went close again. Pereyra slipped the ball in for Jose Holebas down the left flank before he crossed into the area. Troy Deeney rose above Mamadou Sakho to head towards goal, but it just went past the post.

 

Two minutes later, Crystal Palace took the lead, but in the scrappiest of circumstances. Luka Milivojevic delivered a corner which pinged around the area before Cathcart turned the ball over the line with his thigh from an attempted Abdoulaye Doucoure clearance. Ben Foster palmed it back out again as the scramble continued but referee Paul Tierney soon signalled that the goal would stand after goal-line technology confirmed it had crossed the line.

Milivojevic nearly scored a wonder-goal in the 63rd minute as he controlled a Watford clearance, before hitting a sumptuous volley from around 45 yards out. As it dipped towards Foster, the goalkeeper made a superb leaping save to see it away.

 

Watford got themselves level four minutes later and Cathcart was on the scoresheet again - for the right side this time. He got his head onto the end of a Holebas corner, nodding home over the top of substitute goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on a tight angle.

Both sides had a chance to score the next goal. James McArthur was inches away from turning home a fizzing cross from Zaha - ending up in the net himself - before Aaron Wan-Bissaka produced a goal-line clearance to keep out a deflected Deeney effort.

But Watford did take their next opportunity in the 74th minute. It was a wonderful finish from Cleverley too as a James Tomkins clearance from his initial effort landed back into his path and he volleyed home inside a packed area to seal the win for the visitors.