Watford v Palace

Vicarage Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Story so far

Ah, the romance of the FA Cup. But where's the romance of heading up around the M25 to Watford on a drizzly Saturday afternoon in January?

Watford are the original Jekyll and Hyde side at the moment, being comprehensively beaten 4-2 at home by QPR and then thumping Southampton 3-0 at St Mary's. Palace are, of course, going into the match on the back of a 13 game unbeaten run which has seen Neil Warnock pick up the Championship manager of the month award. Jinx? Possibly...

In recent years, the Cup has (sadly) been seen as something of a distraction for many sides from the league and the likelihood is for certainly Palace to field a weakened side in something that's likely to be nothing more than a glorified reserve encounter.

Team news

The Crystal Palace fledglings are set to feature prominantly as manager Neil Warnock wants to give them some experience.

Winger Sean Scannell, 15-year-old midfielder John Bostock, left-back Lee Hills and midfielder Ryan Hall are all poised to start.

Right-back Danny Butterfield is a doubt after limping off against Norwich City this week with a groin injury, but Jose Fonte could return from his thigh problem.

Left-back TONY CRAIG (shoulder) and midfielder Mark Kennedy (Achilles) are still out.

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd may too decide to rest some of his stars as the Hornets chase promotion tot he Premier League.

Midfielder Al Bangura, who fighting deportation to Sierra Leone, is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Jordan Parkes is still out of action due to a broken metatarsal remains out, but Gareth Williams is near a return after ecovering from a knee problem.

Quotes

Aidy Boothroyd said

"I look forward to seeing Mr Warnock this weekend. He's done a great job since joining Palace, but we want to win this weekend so will be fielding a full strength side"

Boothroyd added "Palace will want to go through and have hit a bit of momentum and its one that we definitely want to go through in - it will certainly be a full blooded encounter".

Neil Warnock spoke of his desire to play the kids up at Vicarage Road

"A few of the youngsters will be playing this weekend. John Bostock will be one of those and I am sure everybody coming to Watford will enjoy seeing them play, it will be a good opportunity to see them play against the strongest side in the league."

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Watford - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
2nd	26	14	5	7	47

Full league table

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Watford - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	2	1	2	8	7

Full form table

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Our away record v Watford

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
47	13	12	22	65	79

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
29/10/2007	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Watford
09/05/2006	League	Watford	0 - 0	Crystal Palace
06/05/2006	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Watford
31/03/2006	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 1	Watford
31/12/2005	League	Watford	1 - 2	Crystal Palace

All time results

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One to watch

Marlon King

Unsurprisingly, Marlon King (if he plays...) is going to be the guy Palace need to put the shackles on tomorrow.

Pace, power and a great eye for goal has apparently caught the attentions of Fulham boss Roy Hodgson in the transfer window, justifying King's Premiership pedigree and ability to perform at the top level.

Last meeting

Palace 0-2 Watford

Monday October 29 2007

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hughes (Morrison, 72), Hills, Fletcher, Watson (Bostock, 72), Songo'o, Scowcroft, Freedman (Idrizaj, 66)

Subs not used: Martin, Swaibu

Bookings: Lawrence

Watford: Lee, Stewart, Shittu, DeMerit, Doyley, Mahon, O'Toole, Johnson, Smith (McAnuff, 68), King (Ellington, 75), Darius Henderson (Priskin, 75)

Subs not used Loach, Mariappa

Bookings: DeMerit

Goals: Smith 32, King 67

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