Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Watford at Selhurst Park.
Both of these teams were hugely impressive in the first half of the season, but between them they have managed just one win in their last 16 league games since Christmas.
Still, they are well-placed to make a charge for the Europa League spots should they turn it around in the remaining 13 games of the campaign.
Follow all of the action from South London with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Gooood afternoon all! The form books might not make good reading for these two teams, but with both desperately trying to get back to winning ways, it could be a cracking game at Selhurst Park!
It's odd just how similar these two sides have been this season, starting so well and occupying lofty places in the top half before tailing off in the eight games since Christmas.
On December 25 these two sat sixth and seventh in the table having collected 22 points out of a possible 24 between them in the month before Christmas, but it has been downhill for both since. Watford's 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Newcastle last month is the only win that the two have managed in the 16 league games that the two have played in the last seven weeks.
So Palace are eight without a win to drop from sixth to 12th, but they still have a healthy nine-point cushion to the drop zone and Alan Pardew will not be looking over his shoulder just yet. Watford are a point better off in 10th, just hanging on to their top-half status.
Pardew's side come into his match bottom of the form guide after ending their five-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw at Swansea City last week, becoming the final team in the top four divisions to earn a point in 2016.
Goals have been the Eagles' biggest problem of late - they have managed only three in their winless league run - and Connor Wickham, back from suspension today, is the only striker on the club's books to score in the Premier League this season. Even that goal was a penalty that Wickham took because Yohan Cabaye was not on the field.
Watford have also been having a torrid time in front of goal recently, managing to score in only one of their last five league games. Surely it'll all turn around today and we'll have ourselves a lovely goalfest?
If we do get goals, they might come in the second half as Watford (7) and Palace (9) have conceded the fewest goals in the first half of Premier League games this season.
H2H: Watford have only won one of their last 10 games against Crystal Palace (D2, L7), but the Hornets did win on their last visit to Selhurst Park, beating the Eagles 3-2 in a Championship game in August 2012.
The reverse in September was a tight game that Palace edged 1-0 thanks to a second-half Cabaye penalty.
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Speaking of penalties, here's a stat from Opta: The Eagles have scored the opening goal of the game from a penalty in three of the last four meetings between these two sides.
REFEREE WATCH: So a penalty could be on the cards today and the referee in the middle today is Robert Madley, who has awarded a league-high 10 penalties in the 17 Premier League matches that he has taken charge of in 2015-16. Oooooh!
TEAM ARRIVALS: The #watfordfc squad arriving at Selhurst Park. pic.twitter.com/hdcoTY3wte — Watford FC (@WatfordFC) February 13, 2016
OK then, let's get some team news from South London...
PALACE XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Jedinak, Cabaye, Mutch; Wickham, Adebayor
Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Boateng, Lee, Chamakh, Campbell
Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Boateng, Lee, Chamakh, Campbell
WATFORD XI: Gomes; Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake; Behrami, Watson, Capoue; Amrabat, Deeney; Ighalo
Subs: Pantilimon, Paredes, Holebas, Suarez, Guedioura, Anya, Abdi
Subs: Pantilimon, Paredes, Holebas, Suarez, Guedioura, Anya, Abdi
Alan Pardew makes one change to his Palace side as Connor Wickham returns from his three-game suspension to partner Emmanuel Adebayor in attack, with Lee Chung-Yong the man dropping to the bench.
As for Watford, there are four changes from last weekend's defeat at Spurs. Captain Troy Deeney is back alongside Odion Ighalo in attack, while elsewhere Nordin Amrabat, Valon Behrami and Sebastian Prodl come in. For Amrabat, it is his first Premier League start.
PREDICTION: With both sides starting with two out-and-out attackers, I'm hoping for goals today, but I can't separate the two. I'll go for a 2-2 draw.
Here we go then! The two teams, both in their home kits today, exit the tunnel in front of an expectant crowd. The two sets of supporters seem really keen to get behind their team and lift them to much-needed wins today.
KICKOFF! And off we go at Selhurst Park, with Palace straight on the attack through Souare down the left. His cross is blocked.
Been a good start by Palace, who are doing most of the early pressing. They win an early corner, but Cabaye drags his delivery down and Watford clear.
Adebayor in behind the visitors' backline and he lobs the ball onto the roof of the net, but it would not have counted anyway as he was offside.
UPDATE: First goal of the 3pm kickoffs comes from Stoke, who take the lead at Bournemouth through January's biggest signing, Giannelli Imbula. Sounds like a good hit as well!
By the way, if you want to follow all of the Saturday football as well as this game in detail, then click here to join my colleague Barney Corkhill. He's got everything covered!
Back to Selhurst Park, where Watford have grown into the game a little. They were on the back-foot in the early stages, but now they're having more of the ball (57%) and looking confident.
Groans from the home supporters as Adebayor is needlessly caught offside as Palace looked to clear their lines. That's just plain lazy from the former Arsenal and Tottenham man.
PENALTY TO WATFORD!
Hello! Jedinak has his arms wrapped around Deeney and Madley points to the spot!
GOAL! PALACE 0-1 WATFORD (TROY DEENEY, PEN.)
The returning Hornets captain calmly strokes home from 12 yards. Palace are still fuming about the award of the spot kick, but Jedinak did obstruct the striker. The problem is that you see so many tussles like that that never result in penalties.
Remember before the game I said that Madley had awarded more penalties than any other Premier League ref this season! That's now 11 in 18 games!
SAVE! Palace looking to get back into this and they test Heurelho Gomes for the first time as Cabaye shoots on the volley towards the corner. It might have been going wide, but Gomes took no chances.
Madley gives Palace a soft free kick after Amrabat's innocuous shove on Mutch. Cabaye looks like he's going to cross it but actually goes for goal and blasts it awfully over the top.
UPDATE: Surprise at Goodison Park as West Brom take the lead against Everton. So three away teams - Stoke, Watford and West Brom - have scored the early goals today.
But just his second goal (both penalties) in his last 11 Premier League appearances
PHOTO Troy Deeney celebrates after netting his 7th #BPL goal of the season. Still 0-1 (26 mins) #CRYWAT pic.twitter.com/xKXib6tp0E — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016
Nervy moment for the hosts as Ward stoops to head back to Hennessey and it just reaches the Palace keeper with Deeney and Ighalo both nearby trying to get there first.
Lovely interplay between Deeney and Ighalo, but it ends badly as the former slices wildly off-target. Watford look pretty comfortable at the moment after that early penalty.
They look a little short of ideas, do Palace. Cabaye looks for Adebayor with a through-ball, but the striker had made a different run to the one the Frenchman was anticipating when he sent the ball through.
As it stands, Watford are going up to eighth in the table. Even with their poor recent run, it's still been some season back in the top flight for the Hornets.
Palace defender Dann likes a goal, but he can't get on the end of this deep Mutch cross as Ake eases him out well at the back stick.
SAVE! Almost 2-0! Palace give the ball away in a dangerous position and Deeney feeds Ighalo, who does his signature 'Iggy chop' skill to beat his man before his cheeky near-post effort is kept out by Hennessey.
Deeney has scored more goals from the penalty spot than any other Premier League player this season (5)
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Fabulous one-touch football again from Watford, whose confidence is growing and growing. A frustrated Ward takes out Deeney to give Watford a free kick.
CHANCE! It should be two! Deeney flicks the ball on and Ighalo is onside and in loads of space about eight yards out. For some reason he tries to flick audaciously when a header would have been much easier and more effective.
Amrabat, who has looked very good on his first Premier League start, is given a warning by Madley. No booking though.
GOAL! PALACE 1-1 WATFORD (EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR)
A goal from open play by a Palace striker and it's a first in red and blue for Adebayor! He gets up really well and loops a header over Gomes into the net from Wickham's cross. Completely undeserved, but what a time to score!
Into two minutes added time we go.
HALF-TIME: PALACE 1-1 WATFORD
They don't deserve it, but Palace are level at the break thanks to Adebayor's header, his first Eagles goal, on the stroke of half time. All set up for a great second half and we'll be back in no time to guide you through it.
Second half about to get underway then. That goal for Adebayor was his first in 475 days (October 2014 vs Newcastle).
PALACE SUB: Half-time change from the hosts, with Lee on for Wickham, who, apart from setting up the goal, did very little in the opening period.
KICKOFF! Aaaaaand we're back underway in South London. Palace come forward through Zaha, now playing on the left, but his cross is too close to Gomes.
Madley is yet to book anyone and he's already had a word with a couple of players at the start of the second half. First yellow card might be just around the corner.
What a relief it must have been for Adebayor to see his header loop just over Gomes's despairing dive
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© Getty Images
Cabaye curls over a free kick from the left that Dann is challenging for, but Gomes gets there first and collects it at the second time of asking after dropping the ball initially.
Palace have had 72% possession in the second half and look like the side who might next go in front. They were below-par in the first half, but that goal just before the break really seems to have swung the match in their favour.
CLOSE! Souare beats Gomes with a low cross and Mutch is at the back post ready to turn home, but Cathcart clears really well in his own six-yard box.
SAVE! Zaha this time with a cross from a similar position that Adebayor prods at goal. Gomes knows nothing about it, but somehow keeps it out with his feet!
SAVE! Palace all over Watford right now as Mutch dips a shot at goal from 20 yards that Gomes beats out for a corner.
The game has really opened up the last few minutes, with Deeney failing to test Hennessey at one end after Zaha produced another dangerous cross that Nyom headed out.
WATFORD SUB: Change in midfield for the visitors, with Amrabat replaced by Almen Abdi.
These two have been going at it all game long
SNAPSHOT: Sebastian Prödl involved in an aerial duel with Palace's Emmanuel Adebayor. #watfordfc pic.twitter.com/pGKcBBgxAd — Watford FC (@WatfordFC) February 13, 2016
The Palace fans were frustrated with Adebayor constantly getting caught offside in the first half, but he has improved after half time and just done really well to win the ball back before just playing the ball behind the run of Jedinak. If he is switched on, he should be a top signing for the Eagles.
WATFORD SUB: Change in midfield for the Hornets, with Mario Suarez on for Capoue.
PALACE SUB: And a change for the home side - Fraizer Campbell on for Mutch.
SAVE! Almost a carbon copy of the equalising goal as Adebayor gets up and loops a header towards the top corner, but this time Gomes is better placed and keeps it out.
SAVE! And now Watford almost score the game's third goal. Ighalo loses possession in the box, but Ake is unmarked and runs onto the ball before firing at Hennessey, who makes a good stop.
BOOKING! First yellow card of the match shown to Watford sub Suarez.
Delaney with a half chance from Lee's cross, but he makes completely the wrong contact and heads over.
GOAL! PALACE 1-2 WATFORD (TROY DEENEY)
Is that the winning goal? Watson produces a superb cross from the right that Delaney flicks away, but only to the unmarked Deeney, who had cleverly pulled away to the back post. He brings the ball down really well with his thigh before firing low and through Hennessey on the line.
Around five minutes plus injury time to go and as it stands Watford are going to take the points back to the other side of London and it will be nine league games without a win for Palace.
Adebayor is through on goal, but the offside flag is up AGAIN. Gomes made a great save anyway.
Abdi down the right for Watford and his cutback pings around the six-yard box before Palace scramble it clear with Ighalo lurking.
OFF THE POST! So close to an equaliser! Lee's corner is cleared, but Cabaye meets it on the volley and slams it low against the upright. Great effort!
FIVE minutes added on at Selhurst Park.
RED CARD! PAPE SOUARE SENT OFF FOR PALACE!
It goes from bad to worse for Palace as Souare slides in completely out of control on Behrami. Madley quickly has his red card out and that will be a three-game ban for the left-back.
CHANCE! They're down to 10 men, but Palace have one last chance as Zaha crosses in from the left and Ward heads over.
FULL-TIME: PALACE 1-2 WATFORD
MASSIVE win for Watford and they have Troy Deeney to thank. He scored both goals either side of Emmanuel Adebayor's equaliser to move Watford up to eighth!
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
I'll leave you with the latest Premier League table and kindly ask you to head this way for our coverage of the evening game between Chelsea and Newcastle. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
