Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as
Watford host
Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road!
The Hornets are on the brink of club history having won their opening two games of the season, but Palace have shown plenty of signs of encouragement in the early stages of the campaign too, so this should be an intriguing contest today.
Both sides will be looking to survive first and foremost, but at the same time a top-half finish could be within the grasp of them this season should things go well.
I will look at both clubs in more depth a little later, but let's start with the team news...
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney
WATFORD SUBS: Gomes, Prodl, Mariappa, Femenia, Masina, Sema, Success
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey; Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Zaha, Benteke
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Guaita, Kelly, Riedewald, Kouyate, Meyer, Ayew, Sorloth
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, it is no real surprise to see Javi Gracia name an unchanged team for the Hornets following their victory at Turf Moor last weekend, with the Watford boss keeping faith with the same XI that picked up their first away win of the season.
That means that many of their summer signings once again have to wait for a full debut, with Ben Foster the only new arrival to have featured regularly so far this season.
Watford do have a number of players on the brink of returning from injury, with Stefano Okaka back in training after a leg problem but not thrown straight into the matchday squad today.
Gerard Deulofeu and Miguel Britos are expected back in training next week too and so could be available after the international break, so this Watford side is only going to get stronger after their promising start to the campaign.
Troy Deeney is arguably still the main man for the Hornets, though, and he leads the line alongside Andre Gray again today, having both got on the scoresheet against Burnley last time out.
That goal at Turf Moor was the 99th competitive match Deeney has scored in for Watford, and should he find the back of the net again today then he would become only the fourth player in the club's history to reach a century - after Luther Blissett, Tommy Barnett and Ross Jenkins.
Deeney's importance in this fixture cannot be overstated for Watford either - of the five goals Watford have scored against Crystal Palace in their last eight competitive meetings, Deeney has netted four of them, although he also scored an own goal at Selhurst Park last year.
Watford appear to have plenty of attacking options at their disposal, though; Gray has opened his account for the season already, while Hughes was also on the scoresheet against Burnley and Doucoure was their standout player last term. Roberto Pereyra netted twice on the opening weekend too, so the burden of goalscoring has been shared around this Watford team now.
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As for Crystal Palace, their main man is, of course,
Wilfried Zaha, but he could certainly do with a little help from those around him - in particular Christian Benteke.
Roy Hodgson has kept faith with the striker this afternoon despite another goalless display against former club Liverpool, and there is no doubt that the Belgian needs to improve his chance-to-goals ratio. Benteke had one of the best conversion ratios in the Premier League while at Aston Villa, but that has plummeted since.
Hodgson has been forced into one change for today's game, but that is the extent of his alterations following a gutsy - if ultimately fruitless - display against Liverpool on Monday night.
Promising young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off in that game and so misses this one through suspension, with Joel Ward given the nod to replace him ahead of Martin Kelly at right-back. Aside from that, though, it is as you were for the Eagles.
That means no start for Max Meyer, who had been tipped to make his full debut for the club this afternoon, while fellow summer arrivals Cheikhou Kouyate, Jordan Ayew and Vicente Guaita also have to make do with a place on the bench once again.
Like Watford, Palace will be hopeful of their midfielders weighing in with goals throughout this season too, and Schlupp has already opened his account for the club while Townsend came inches away from doing so in sensational fashion against Liverpool last time out. Milivojevic is always a threat from set pieces too, so there are goals in this Palace team.
The main burden continues to fall on the shoulders of Wilfried Zaha, though, who has committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year deal and has been tipped to become a Palace legend by manager
Roy Hodgson.
Zaha needs just one goal to become Palace's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, currently sitting level with Chris Armstrong on 23, but he has failed to score or assist a goal in any of his previous six Premier League appearances against Watford for Palace.
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This promises to be an entertaining affair today, then, perhaps more so than many matches between two teams with a priority of safety will be this season as both sides like to attack and are capable of scoring a decent amount of goals.
It is Watford who will go into the game full of confidence, though, having made a very bright start to the season with two wins from two - one of only four teams still boasting a 100% record in the Premier League.
Another victory today would see the Hornets move level with Liverpool on nine points at the top of the table, but it would also earn the class of 2018-19 a special place in the club's history too.
Watford have never won their opening three games of a top-flight season, and in their entire history it has only happened on three previous occasions throughout the divisions - most recently in 1998-99 in the second tier.
The Hornets also won their first three games in 1997-98 as a third-tier team, and in 1988-89 in the second tier once again.
It is already only the second time they have ever begun a top-flight campaign with back-to-back wins, and one reason behind that could well be an unusual level of consistency around the club.
Incredibly, this is the first time since 2014 that Watford have started a season with the same manager that they finished the last one with, and while the chopping and changing has worked to a certain extent so far, perhaps now the owners are seeing the benefits of sticking with a manager.
Of course, Javi Gracia has been quick to stress that they are only two games into the new season with a long way still to go, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.
A 2-0 win over a Brighton side that has since beaten Manchester United and given Liverpool a run for their money was an even better opening-weekend result than it might have seemed at the time, while last weekend's 3-1 win away to Burnley - who finished seventh last term - was another notable result.
It is the first time that Watford have won back-to-back Premier League games since March, and another victory this afternoon would give them three on the bounce for the first time since December 2015, so runs like this - however early it may be in the season - do not come about too often for the Hornets.
Considering Watford only one one of their last nine Premier League games at the end of last season, it is a significant improvement from Gracia's side so far.
Indeed, Watford's tally of five goals from these opening two games matches how many they scored during those final nine games of last term, with further emphasises the level of their improvement.
Watford's main problem last term was keeping goals out rather than scoring them, though, particularly here at Vicarage Road where they conceded more home goals than any other team in the entire division in 2017-18.
Watford's overall home record is good, though, with only one win from their 10 competitive outings here at Vicarage Road so far in 2018, winning six of those including victories over Chelsea and Everton.
In the Premier League alone that record stands at five wins and just one defeat in nine home games since the turn of the year, with that solitary loss being inflicted by Burnley in April 2018.
Today they are coming up against a team with a surprisingly impressive away record, though, with the Eagles having gone five Premier League games unbeaten on the road - a streak only Manchester City can beat at the moment.
Palace have one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the Premier League, but their counter-attacking style is perhaps better suited to away games which could explain why they have experienced such an upturn in form on the road in recent months.
To give some idea of the scale of Palace's current away form, if they avoid defeat this afternoon then they will make it six top-flight games unbeaten for the first time since 1992, when they drew five away games in a row before winning a sixth.
The Eagles have won their last two matches on the road as well, so if they take all three points from Vicarage Road then they would win three top-flight away games on the bounce for the first time since August 2015.
It is quite a turnaround for the Eagles, whose tally of 16 away goals last season was one of the worst in the Premier League.
Indeed, Palace even went on a run of 10 consecutive Premier League away games without scoring a goal at one stage, but since then they have scored in 11 of their last 12 - only failing to net at this very ground in a 0-0 draw in April.
Now, Palace could win their opening two top-flight away games for only the third time in their history, and they could also keep two opening away clean sheets for the first time since 1933, when they were playing in the Third Division South.
The potential targets were set up by an impressive 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage on the opening weekend, with Schlupp and Zaha getting the goals against the free-spending, much-fancied and newly-promoted hosts.
Palace could not make it two wins out of two on Monday night when they took on Liverpool and lost by the same 2-0 scoreline, but even defeat in their first home game of the season showed plenty of signs of encouragement.
Hodgson's side made things difficult for a team expected to be Man City's main challengers for the title this season, and considered themselves unlucky to have been penalised for a penalty right on the stroke of half time. Hodgson will no doubt be looking to harness that feeling of injustice for today's game.
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That defeat to Liverpool ended a seven-match Premier League unbeaten streak for Palace which stretched back to their previous meeting with the Reds in March, as well as a four-game winning run.
Indeed, Palace have now lost only two of their last 10 Premier League games, with both of those defeats coming at home to Liverpool. The Eagles have won six of those games, though, so it constitutes a good run of form for them.
Even if they do fall to a second successive defeat today - something which has not happened to the Eagles in the Premier League since losing four in a row in March - then it will not be time to panic as they have been in worse worse scenarios before.
Palace need only go back as far as last season for the most extreme example of that, having lost all of their opening seven games of the season without scoring a single goal. It was the worst start to a campaign in Premier League history, but still they managed to finish 11th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
PREDICTION! Right, we're 1-0 minutes away from kickoff at Vicarage Road, which can mean only one thing - time for a prediction!
I am optimistic of goals in this game, and it should see two sides full of confidence going against each other. The defences of both teams can be shaky at times, which hopefully (for the neutral) will contribute to an entertaining affair. I'm going for a score draw!
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Watford 2-2 Crystal Palace
BREAKING: Before we go any further, some breaking team news to bring you as Crystal Palace have been forced into a late change to their starting lineup.
Tomkins has dropped out of the starting XI to be replaced by Martin Kelly, with Kaikai coming onto the bench.
Hodgson did not want to use the phrase is his pre-match press conference, but Crystal Palace have been something of a bogey team for Watford in the past, winning 10 and losing two of their last 16 meetings across all competitions.
The Eagles took four points off Watford last season, scoring two very late goals to steal a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park in December before playing out a goalless draw in April - the first 0-0 in this fixture for 10 years.
Vicarage Road has been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Eagles too. They are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Watford here, winning three and drawing four in a run which stretches back to a Championship clash in 2009.
Indeed, that 2-0 win for Watford is their only home league triumph against Palace in their last 13 attempts.
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to get started here. A reminder of the team news, complete with that late Crystal Palace change...
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Zaha, Benteke
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Watford get us underway at Vicarage Road!
Plenty of noise from the fans in the opening exchanges, but both teams are just taking their time to get settled into this one for now.
YELLOW CARD! Every challenge on Zaha will draw a reaction from this crowd following the diving controversy last season, but this one earns Capoue an early yellow card for catching the winger on his heel.
CHANCE! Early chance for the visitors too as Townsend floats a cross towards the back post which interests both Zaha and Benteke. Zaha looks to have the better chance - albeit from a tighter angle - but Benteke throws himself at the ball and sends his diving header wide of the target.
Janmaat swings a cross into the box and Deeney wins the header, but he cannot get the power on it to really trouble the keeper.
YELLOW CARD! Zaha has been heavily involved in the opening exchanges here and the home fans are baying for a red card as he goes into a challenge on Holebas with some studs showing. The referee shows the yellow card, though, and even that is a little harsh.
Now Van Aanholt is left in a heap on the floor after another heavy challenge. Referee Anthony Taylor could have his work cut out here - there is no quarter being given or asked!
Having seen that challenge by Capoue on Zaha again, the Watford midfielder is perhaps a little lucky to have escaped with only a yellow. He scraped his studs right down the back of Zaha's leg in a challenge much worse than Zaha's which earned the same punishment.
CHANCE! Big chance for Palace, and it is once again the Townsend to Benteke connection!
Townsend cuts back onto his left and puts a vicious inswinging cross into the middle which Benteke glances towards goal. Foster makes a brilliant reaction save to bat it away, although Benteke probably should have scored. The replays show that it actually came off his shoulder.
Watford have not really got into the game yet. The opening exchanges have been disrupted by a number of heavy tackles, but it is Palace who have made the brighter start.
CHANCE! Another huge chance for Palace, but once again Foster comes to Watford's rescue!
Townsend is again the architect as he skips away from Holebas before delivering a right-footed cross into the box which McArthur is allowed to run on to from a deep position. The midfielder simply has to score, but Foster makes himself big and pulls off another super stop!
Palace could - and should - be two goals to the good in this match already. Hodgson will be concerned if his side don't start to make these chances count sooner rather than later.
Here is the first of those two big Foster saves, but the second was arguably even better. In truth, though, he shouldn't have been given much chance to save either...
CLOSE! Palace are almost made to pay for their profligacy as a cross from the right goes over the head of Deeney but finds Pereyra, who unleashes a first-time volley at the back post. It looks goalbound, but McArthur gets a foot to it in mid-air which sends it bouncing up and just over the crossbar.
SAVE! Lovely football from the hosts as a low pass from the right is dummied by both Doucoure and Deeney before finding Pereyra just outside the area. He tries to curl an effort towards goal, but it is too close to the keeper.
Good chance for Watford to break as Sakho can only knock the ball into the path of Capoue, who tries to play Gray through on goal. However, he overhits the pass and a good attacking platform goes begging.
The hosts have certainly settled into this game now, having been slow to get going. They could well have been two down here, but they have responded now and are hauling themselves back into the match.
We've had almost half an hour of this game now and, while we're still goalless, it has been an entertaining affair. There have been chances, good saves and plenty of needle between these two sides.
Van Aanholt hangs a cross up to the back post for Benteke to attack, and the striker knocks it down into a dangerous area, but he had just strayed offside beforehand.
McArthur is perhaps a little fortunate to escape a booking here as he clips the ankles of Capoue to prevent a counter.
Almost a chance for the visitors as McArthur exchanges passes with Benteke before breaking into the box, but Holebas tracks back really well and makes a fine sliding challenge. The ball almost runs into the path of Zaha, but Foster scoops it up.
Watford hit straight back with a slick team move of their own as Janmaat plays a clever one-two with Doucoure en route to the byline, before clipping a cross into the middle. The goal is gaping, but Ward is well placed to clear it away.
This match is very finely poised at the moment. Palace have been the better team in this first half so far, but they have failed to make the most of their best spell and Watford are very much in this one now.
YELLOW CARD! These Watford players are trying to rile Zaha up here, but it backfires on this occasion as Janmaat picks up a yellow for wrestling with the winger before a throw-in. Both players were given a warning seconds earlier by the referee, but Janmaat refused to relent.
There is no love lost between these two sides, or the fans, at the moment. There is an air of ill-feeling around this one, stemming from that early challenge on Zaha, and it has threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions.
Palace have enjoyed 63% of possession in the last 10 minutes and still look like the team most likely to get the opening goal, but they are not finding chances as easy to come by as they were in the opening stages.
Palace have the chance to break through Zaha, but the winger's pass is too heavy, much to the delight of the Watford supporters.
CLOSE! Watford nearly break the deadlock right on the stroke of half time as Gray does enough to just prod the ball into the path of Janmaat, who hits a first-time effort which bobbles just wide of the far post. He probably should have at least tested the keeper there!
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: WATFORD 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
The first half comes to an end at Vicarage Road, and we're still goalless between Watford and Crystal Palace despite an entertaining opening 45 minutes.
There have been chances for both sides - as well as a few talking points regarding bad challenges - but it is Palace who will feel that they should be ahead in this match.
The best chances have fallen the way of the away side, and they all came in the opening 20 minutes too as Palace made a much brighter start than their hosts.
Christian Benteke squandered the first with a miscued header which Foster reacted well to save, and the Watford keeper came to his side's rescue again just four minutes later to thwart McArthur from close range after the Palace midfielder had broken into the box.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of that first half came after only three minutes, though, when Capoue was lucky not to see red for a naughty challenge on Zaha - catching the Palace man right on his Achilles and risking serious injury.
Watford have been targeting Zaha from the start and the Palace winger has picked up a soft yellow himself, but he had every right to feel unhappy with this challenge.
Watford have had a couple of sights of goals themselves, with Pereyra seeing one volley deflected narrowly over the crossbar before testing the keeper with another curling shot moments later.
Javi Gracia will want to see more from his side in the coming 45 minutes, while Hodgson will be hoping that his men haven't missed their best chance to take all three points from this game.
KICKOFF: Crystal Palace get us back underway for the second half at Vicarage Road!
CHANCE! Watford create their best chance of the match just seconds into the second half!
A cross from the right is won by Deeney, who sends it up into the air. Capoue can't turn it goalwards, but the ball drops to Hughes, who sees his firm strike denied by Hennessey from point-blank range.
Big save from the Palace keeper!
Watford have made a much brighter start to this second half. Doucoure exchanges passes with Deeney before cutting inside and choosing to go for goal himself, despite having plenty of men in the middle. Safe to say his teammates are not happy with him as he blasts his shot well off target.
CHANCE! Another chance for the hosts, who have come out flying at the start of this second half! Doucoure does really well to keep the ball alive in the box before eventually teeing up Pereyra, who fires his finish well over when he should have done better.
Whatever Javi Gracia has said to his players at half time has really worked - they are playing with a lot more urgency now.
GOAL! WATFORD 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (ROBERTO PEREYRA)
Watford get the goal that they have been threatening since the start of this second half, and it is a third of the season for Pereyra!
Capoue, who is lucky to be on the pitch, is instrumental in creating the chance with a powerful run through midfielder which sees him burst past three defenders before giving the ball to Pereyra.
From there, though, it is all about the finish as Pereyra cuts inside Townsend before curling a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
Palace just cannot get going at the moment, and a lot of that is down to Watford's huge improvement since the interval. The hosts are already pushing for a second now.
Aside from a brief spell in the first half it was always Palace that looked most like scoring, but it is a complete role reversal now. Watford are very much on top and a second goal looks increasingly likely for the hosts here.
I wonder how long it will be until Roy Hodgson starts making changes. He cannot be happy with what he has seen from his side in this second half so far.
The visitors are beginning to grow into the game again now after that poor opening 15 minutes at the start of this first half. In many ways it has been similar to the first half, but in reverse while Watford have taken one of their chances.
SHOT! Better from Palace here as they manage to keep the ball for an extended period of time before Milivojevic eventually goes for goal, seeing his low strike zip wide of the target.
Palace have certainly fought their way back into the game in terms of possession and territory, but their chances have really dried up after that bright start to the match. They need more cutting edge in that final third now.
CLOSE! This would have been some way to answer your critics!
It is brilliant from Benteke as he takes the ball down on his chest just inside the area before turning and unleashing a powerful, curling strike which looks destined for the top corner, but flies inches wide with Foster beaten.
GOAL! WATFORD 2-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (JOSE HOLEBAS)
Watford double their advantage, and there is no-one in the stadium more surprised about it than the goalscorer
Jose Holebas!
The full-back cuts inside all too easily before swinging a right-footed cross into the box towards Deeney. However, it drifts over Hennessey and nestles into the top corner to leave Watford in complete control!
WATFORD SUB: The hosts make a change in the wake of that goal, with Ken Sema replacing Gray.
Palace win a free kick in a good crossing position and Milivojevic whips it into the middle, but it is too far ahead of everyone and goes straight through to safety.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Finally time for a change for the visitors as Max Meyer replaces Schlupp.
GOAL! WATFORD 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (WILFRIED ZAHA)
Hope for Crystal Palace, and of course it is Zaha who spark it with his record-breaking 24th Premier League goal for the club!
The winger exchanges passes with Meyer on the left flank and is perhaps offside when he receives the return ball. However, while Watford's defenders stop, Zaha carries on a drills a low strike through the legs of the keeper from a tight angle.
Foster perhaps should not be beaten from there, but there was plenty of power before Zaha's effort.
YELLOW CARD! Meyer adds a yellow card to his assist for a heavy challenge on Doucoure.
We have a very exciting finale to come in this match! That Zaha strike has restored Palace's belief that they can get something out of this game.
CHANCE! A deep corner into the Palace box is met by Kabasele, but his looping header is going wide and Meyer on the post gets the shout to let it go.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Benteke's drought drags on as he lumbers off to be replaced by Alexander Sorloth.
YELLOW CARD! Pereyra goes into the book for a cynical tug on Ward, gifting Palace a free kick in a good crossing position...
Townsend whips it in, but Deeney is the first line of defence and heads it clear.
Just two minutes of normal time remaining now, and as things stand it is this fluke goal which will decide the match...
CHANCE! Half a chance for Sorloth as the ball is floated into the box for the big striker, but Kabasele does just about enough to prevent him from getting his header on target.
There will be FIVE minutes of added time at the end of this match!
WATFORD SUB: A late change for Watford to waste a bit of time here as Deeney is replaced by Isaac Success.
CHANCE! What a chance for Palace to steal a point at the death! Ward is completely unmarked from a corner and runs onto the ball perfectly, but he steers his header wide of the target when he simply had to score! That is a sitter!
FULL TIME: WATFORD 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
What a finale to that game! Watford hold out for all three points to make their best-ever start to a top-flight season, but they had to survive an almighty scare late on with Ward missing a sitter in the sixth minute of injury time!
In the end it is a freak goal from Jose Holebas which has earned the Hornets all three points, with his cross floating straight in after Roberto Pereyra had earlier given his side the lead with a rather more intentional finish into the same corner.
Wilfried Zaha pulled one back for the visitors with 12 minutes remaining, but they could not find that equaliser as they slumped to a second successive defeat.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early kickoff as Watford hold out for an historic victory over Crystal Palace which takes them level with Liverpool at the top of the early Premier League table. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
We also have live coverage of Chelsea's trip to Newcastle to offer you, so be sure to check that out.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
