Watford v Palace

Vicarage Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Aki - could be back in contension for a place in the starting lineup

Team news

The past two matches has seen a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde type Palace. Firstly a stunning performance which saw Wolves trounced 4-2, however Tuesday’s night saw the Eagles start well but totally collapse in the second half losing to Derby.

Francis is likely to go with the same first XI which has started the past two games. This means that despite playing 3 games in the space of a week, 17 year old WAYNE ROUTLEDGE will once again start on the right wing, leaving Tommy Black warming the bench.

Dean Austin and Aki Riihilahti could both be in contention for a place on the bench having successfully returned to training following injury. If Riihilahti was said to be fit enough to start the game Stevie Thomson would be the most likely candidate for relegation to the subs’ bench.

Following the sacking of Gianluca Vialli, Watford have started the season with a tremendously good home form, however their away games have led them to secure only 14 points from nine games.

Hornets’ boss Ray Lewington could once again be without Marcus Gayle, Richard Johnson and Gifton Noel-Williams, however he will be pleased to welcome back Dominic Foley and Paul Robinson following their recent suspensions, although only the latter could find himself in the starting line-up for Saturday’s game.

Watford will be hoping that the solid defensive partnership of Neil Cox and Sean Dyche will once again come good if they are to deny Palace some precious away points.

Watford - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
7th	9	4	2	3	14

Full league table

Watford - current form

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

Full form table

Our away record v Watford

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
43	11	10	22	55	74

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
09/03/2002	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Watford
15/12/2001	League	Watford	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
07/04/2001	League	Watford	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
09/12/2000	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Watford
24/04/1999	League	Watford	2 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Alec Chamberlain

Watford's top scorer

Robinson - 3 goals

Watford's bad boy

Foley, Nielsen, Robinson - 0 1

Palace old boys

None

The former Sunderland keeper has been the main reason why Watford are steadying themselves at the top positions in the league despite a poor start. Despite his age, he is a great shot stopper and proved in the corresponding fixture last year that he is a force to be reckoned with, with a string of fantastic saves to keep us out. He is playing well again this season and Palace will have a tough time breaking him down.

Probable line-up

	Johnson	Freedman
Butterfield	Thomson	Mullins	Routledge
Granville	Popovic	Powell	Fleming
Clarke

Last meeting

Palace 0-2 Watford

Saturday March 09 2002

Palace: Clarke, Smith, Murphy, Austin, Mullins, Black (Akinbiyi 53), Granville (Thomson, 59) , Riihilahti, Gray (Kirovski 83), Freedman, Morrison.

Subs not used: Kolinko, Frampton.

Watford: Chamberlain, Robinson, Brown, Galli, Cox, Glass (Fisken 65), Nielsen (Doyley 89), Hyde, Mahon, Smith, Gayle (Noel-Williams 88).

Subs not used: Baardsen, Cook.

Goals: Nielsen 45, Gayle 47.

Booking: Galli.