Crystal Palace-Match Preview

Not to see the Queen I hasten to add, but one hopes from a Waford perspective that a King, Marlon to be precise, will be crowned hero after ensuring Watford return to winning ways after suffering a surprise home reversal to fellow South London side Millwall last weekend.

That disappointing loss has left the Golden Boys with plenty to do if they still harbour ambitions of claiming second place and automatic promotion from under the noses of Sheffield United, but football is full of surprises and a quick glance at the Blades remaining fixtures see home games with Reading, Leeds United and Crystal Palace and visits to Cardiff City and Luton Town, so all is not lost just yet for Boothroyd's men by any means.

Meanwhile, hosts Crystal Palace also lost last Saturday to a controversial late Inigo Idiakez goal at Derby County (1-2), a result which has, in all likelihood consigned them to the play-offs.

However, the Eagles remain a serious threat to all sides at this level 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 and Andrew Johnson and Clinton Morrison up front.

So the ingredients are there for a special evening under the Selhurst Park lights, as the Golden Boys attempt to redress the balance following a controversial New Year's Eve home loss to Dowie's men.

Darius Henderson had managed to cancel out Darren Ward's first half opener for the South Londoners, but as the game entered its final quarter an innocuous looking Clarke Carlisle challenge sent Morrison sprawling to the canvas inside the penalty area, and Johnson needed no second invitation from twelve yards to secure the points for the visitors.

History of the Crystal Palace v Watford fixture

Watford pack their bags to visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday evening, needing to turn around their fortunes at the ground. The Golden Boys will be hoping to improve upon a record which has seen them ending up on the losing side in more than half of the games played between the two.

The last match played between at Selhurst Park was in August 2003 when the Eagles carved out a narrow 1-0 victory in a League Division One fixture.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here

Recent respective form guides

Crystal Palace have only performed averagely at home, winning 3 and losing 2 of their last six. A total of 11 goals have been scored by the Eagles in those games with 9 conceded.

Watford have had a decent run of form away from home recently, tasting just one defeat in their last six, and picking up four good wins. The games have constituted a decent return of 12 goals for the Hornets, and 6 goals against.

Crystal Palace's total of 67 points from their 40 games sees them sitting in fifth position, firmly ensconced in the play-off places in the Coca Cola Championship. Watford are just outside the automatic promotion places, in third spot, having taken 72 points from their 40 games played.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here

FootyMad's prediction…

Watford are in smashing form away from home at present, and we predict this carrying them to a narrow victory at Crystal Palace. Away win