Aidy Boothroyd's Watford attempt to reverse a worrying trend over the next four days, as they look to book their place in the Coca-Cola Championship Play-off Final in Cardiff later this month with a two-legged victory over Crystal Palace. |
On just five previous occasions since the inception of the end of season play-offs 19 years ago has the team finishing third during the regular season in Level 2 actually been promoted into England's top flight. The task is made no easier by the fact that Crystal Palace are the Golden Boys opponents, for the South London team, looking for an immediate return to the Premiership following their last day relegation twelve months ago, are one of the most adept at gaining promotion via the ‘end of season lottery', having achieved the feat three times already, and twice after finishing sixth in the regular season table. The Golden Boys will however take solace from the fact that they too gained promotion into the Premiership during their last venture into the play-offs back in 1999, and by the knowledge they must be due a slice of good fortune when playing the Eagles. Crystal Palace was the only team to complete the league double over Watford during the regular season, but both fiercely contested encounters could easily have ended in different outcomes.
The return fixture at Selhurst Park just over five weeks ago began well enough for Watford as the Coca-Cola Championship's leading goalscorer, Marlon King deservedly edged them ahead, but after Dougie Freedman had restore equality following another spot kick award soon after half time, unfortunate own goals by Jordan Stewart and Jay DeMerit consigned the Golden Boys to defeat. Since that reversal Boothroyd's side has remained unbeaten, winning two and drawing three of their last five games, a run that sealed a third place finish, whilst for Palace, an inconsistency especially away from home in the closing weeks of the campaign left them residing in the sixth and last play-off position. The Eagles do remain a serious threat to all sides at this level though, and there is talent in abundance within the Selhurst Park ranks, from a perhaps slightly eccentric Gabor Kiraly in goal to the highly rated Darren Ward and Fitz Hall in defence, the exciting Jobi McAnuff and combative Ben Watson in midfield together with the livewire Johnson and Morrison up front. So the ingredients are there for a special afternoon at Selhurst Park, as the Golden Boys attempt to redress the balance and deny Iain Dowie's team a place at Cardiff. History of the Crystal Palace v Watford fixture Watford pack their bags to visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime, needing to turn around their fortunes at the ground, and hoping to improve upon a record which has seen them ending up on the losing side in more than half of the games between the two. The last clash at Selhurst Park was as recent as March 31 2006, when the Eagles earned a 3-1 come from behind victory after Watford had taken a first half lead in a Coca-Cola Championship fixture. For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here.
Crystal Palace have been in good form at home of late, winning three and drawing two and losing just one, against fellow play-off promotion contenders Leeds United on 4 March 2006 in their last six fixtures. A good total of 14 goals have been scored by the Eagles in those games, but a rearguard that has conceded 9 during the same period offers Watford plenty of encouragement. Watford have had a decent run of form away from home recently, tasting just one defeat, to Crystal Palace in their last six, and picking up three good wins. The games have constituted a decent return of 8 goals for the Golden Boys, with 6 against. For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here.
Watford remain a constant threat on their travels and here at the Golden Boys we predict a terrific contest with a draw the most likely outcome, leaving everything to play for in the second leg at Vicarage Road next Tuesday. Score Draw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
