Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League encounter between Crystal Palace and Watford.

A few weeks ago, Palace already appeared to be on course for relegation to the Championship but back-to-back victories has resulted in Sam Allardyce's side moving into the 17th place in the table for the first time in a while. It has given the club as a whole a new lease of life, and they now look a team who can kick on and move away from a relegation battle. However, that can all change with one result and Watford will make the short trip to Selhurst Park to put a dent in their rivals' hopes of remaining in the top flight.

As for Watford, they too looked to be clear of the drop-zone but three games without a win has sees Walter Mazzarri's team with plenty of work to do. They may sit seven points clear of 18th spot but a defeat to Palace this afternoon will leave them just three points ahead of their hosts in the standings. Make no mistake about it - this is a massive game for the Hornets.

LATEST! Before we crack on with the team news, I will point you in the direction of our coverage from Thw Hawthorns where Arsenal are currently losing 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion. Rightly or wrongly, this is only going to encourage protests regarding Arsene Wenger's position at the club. Click here to follow the closing stages from the West Midlands.

Anyway, the team news is on its way...

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Townsend, Benteke

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Lee, Sako, Campbell

WATFORD XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Behrami; Janmaat, Cleverley, Capoue, Niang; Deeney

WATFORD SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Amrabat, Success, Doucoure, Zuniga, Holebas, Okaka

Palace boss Allardyce makes just the one change from the team which started the 2-0 victory away at West Brom. It's an enforced one, too, with Jeffrey Schlupp coming in to replace the injured Patrick van Aanholt. It means that Christian Benteke gets an opportunity to improve on a run which has seen him score just once in the Premier League since December 10.

As for Watford, the most notable alteration made by Mazzarri sees Stefano Okaka drop down to the substitutes' bench, with Daryl Janmaat coming into the team. There's also a start for Craig Cathcart, with Jose Holebas missing out.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at The Hawthorns and West Brom had little issues in closing out a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. What now for the Gunners and Arsene Wenger? Click here for our match report from the West Midlands.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 115th time in which these two sides have faced each other in a competitive match, with Palace claiming 47 wins in comparison to 41 victories for Watford. Palace have won exactly half of the 10 most recent fixtures between the two teams, with Watford claiming just two triumphs during that time.

We have mentioned that Benteke is currently enduring a poor spell in the Premier League but the same cannot be said of his opposite number Troy Deeney. The Watford skipper struggled for goals earlier in the campaign but he has scored in five of his last six outings in the top flight, with the only game he hasn't netted being on a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. With England struggling for strikers ahead of internationals with Germany and Lithuania, he must wonder what he has to do to earn a call-up to the Three Lions squad.

The reverse fixture at Vicarage Road ended in a 1-1 draw, and it was a game where Andros Townsend put in one of his best performances of the season. He hasn't necessarily carried that on during Allardyce's reign, but he comes into this match after scoring a wonder goal at West Brom. It represents just his second goal of the season, and his manager must be hoping that he can continue that form heading into this fixture in order to ease the burden on Wilfried Zaha, who has been showcasing the ability which has made him a reported target of Tottenham Hotspur.

Many Palace fans will suggest that Mamadou Sakho has been the key man in their last two victories. The centre-back was frozen out at Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp, but he has taken little time in settling in alongside James Tomkins in the Palace defence. Allardyce suggested earlier this week that it may be difficult to sign him on a permanent basis and while that may be true, I'm sure that Allardyce is only concerned with the Malian helping his side remain in the Premier League.

PREDICTION! While Watford carry a threat this afternoon, we cannot ignore that they conceded four goals at home to Southampton in their previous match. As for Palace, while Benteke is misfiring, it should not prevent them from netting a couple of goals and we think that they will do enough to secure a 2-1 win.

The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch at Selhurst Park. We will be underway very shortly. We will also look to bring you updates from the games involving teams in the bottom half of the standings throughout the afternoon.

Watford get us started.

It's been a relatively quiet start at Selhurst Park, but the same cannot be said of the game involving West Ham United and Leicester City. The Foxes have already gone ahead through Riyad Mahrez. They started this game two points above Palace and four adrift of Watford.

I promise I will start providing updates to this game soon but Leicester have just gone 2-0 up at West Ham! Robert Huth netted the second. The transformation since Claudio Ranieri's exit is astonishing.

The first opportunity of this match falls to Sakho, who rises highest to meet a corner from Cabaye. However, the Palace defender's effort clears the crossbar.

More goals elsewhere, this time at Goodison Park where Everton have taken the lead against Hull City. That's a good scoreline for both of the teams involved in this match.

SHOT! Better from Watford who manage to get a shot on goal through Niang, but his long-range effort was never going to beat Hennessey in the Palace goal. Still a very low-key start at Selhurst Park.

Of course, it's very early days, but I'm pretty sure that Mazzarri would take a draw from this game. They've set their stall out to frustrate Palace by the looks of it and so far, it's working to a certain extent.

A clash of heads between Janmaat and Schlupp sees both men require treatment. The pair will be ok to continue, however.

While this remains a match lacking action in the final third, the goals continue to go in elsewhere with West Ham halving the deficit at the London Stadium

Both sides are competing well in the middle of the pitch but it's still very much a case of defences being on top. Allardyce will probably be pleased with the way his side are passing the ball about but Benteke is struggling to get into the game in the final third.

Watford have only kept one clean sheet in the Premier League since October 29, and that came against Middlesbrough - arguably the worst attack in the division. There's still time for things to change but it's so far so good for Mazzarri's men. Palace just aren't doing enough. Neither goalkeeper has been required to make a save.

A free kick into the Watford penalty area was headed down towards Benteke but he wasn't quick enough to get there ahead of Gomes, who claimed with relative ease.

CHANCE! Bit better from Watford, who use Deeney for a knock-on in a similar way Palace tried to make best use of their height at the other end, but Janmaat did not make the most of it, instead miscuing his volley.

CHANCE! Bit better from Watford, who use Deeney for a knock-on in a similar way Palace tried to make best use of their height at the other end, but Janmaat did not make the most of it, instead miscuing his volley.

CHANCE! I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about some goals now. Kaboul headed Zaha's cross to the edge of the area where Cabaye was waiting but his shot was deflected wide of the post.

The goals are still going in elsewhere. Leicester now lead West Ham by a 3-1 scoreline, with Jamie Vardy now getting himself onto the scoresheet. Back to this game, and Zaha has just fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite the improvement in this game, I think Allardyce will want to get his team back into the dressing room. He would have expected more from them. You have to wonder whether he would be prepared to substitute a below-par Benteke. Probably not but given his recent record, there's an argument that Campbell deserves a chance.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time goes at Selhurst Park and we are, of course, still goalless. It hasn't been a classic.

We are back underway at Selhurst Park. Watford have introduced Abdoulaye Doucoure for Behrami.

SHOT! Both teams have started brighter in this second half but in all honesty, they couldn't get any worse. Capoue sends a shot over the crossbar for Watford.

There hasn't been any goals in the other games since the start of the second half so we are not feeling too left out. We can't be too far away from some more changes, even at this early stage.

Some positive play from Zaha managed to earn Palace a corner but nothing came from the resulting set piece. At least with Zaha on the pitch, Allardyce will feel comfortable that he can produce something special when they most need it.

I wish I could bring you an update which suggests that things are improving in this game but it is still the same rhythm. Plenty of play in the middle third of the pitch and neither side being able to find a final ball.

Zaha is extremely fortunate to remain on the pitch. After Prodl got the better of an exchange between the two, the Palace winger appeared to lash out, making contact with the back of the defender's head. The referee and his assistants have missed it.

SHOT! After remaining on the pitch, Zaha almost benefits after collecting a pass from Townsend but his strike goes just over the crossbar. Still nothing coming back from Watford.

BOOKING! Moments after the two were involved in an altercation, Prodl goes into the book for a foul on Zaha. That was inevitable.

Deeney continues his run of scoring in the majority of his side's recent matches...but this one is into his own net! Cabaye's free kick into the penalty caused problems for the Watford defence and Deeney has headed the ball in via the post. It's come as no surprise that it has taken an own goal to break the deadlock.

What have Watford got left? In theory, they should have plenty because they have barely put foot in Hennessey's penalty area but Mazzarri needs to act fast to get his side back into this game.

SAVE! Much, much better from the visitors. Doucoure's shot has come from distance but Hennessey has been forced into a fine save to keep his side ahead in this match.

SUBSTITUTION! Watford decide to change things up going forward, with Ismael Success being introduced for Cleverley. Not long to go in this one now.

CHANCE! Benteke has offered very little all game but he almost scores out of nothing. A powerful run from the middle of the pitch ends with the Belgian getting a shot away but it goes just wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION! Scott Dann is on for the final eight minutes, with Tomkins making way. I think he must have picked up a knock because he has been excellent.

SHOT! Palace look more likely to make it two rather than Watford find an equaliser. After Zaha sees a shot blocked, Cabaye sends the ball marginally wide of the post. That would have been game over.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Double change from Allardyce, who introduces Damian Delaney and Bakary Sako for Cabaye and Townsend.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at Selhurst Park and Palace have won again! That's their third victory in a row, and it was given to them by a Deeney own goal. How big could that be at the end of the season. Based on this performance, Watford are definitely not safe.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick around for the match between Bournemouth and Swansea City. That's another huge game in the battle to stay in the Premier League. Goodbye for now.