Crystal Palace vs Watford: Tom Cleverley's goal takes Javi Gracia's side up to seventh in Premier League table

Watford came from behind to win at Crystal Palace and equalled their top-flight record of four consecutive away games unbeaten.

After Craig Cathcart’s own goal saw them go behind, a much improved second half performance saw them complete a turnaround which lifts Javi Gracia’s side to the giddy heights of seventh in the Premier League.

Palace had been steadily improving, with victory in three of their previous five Premier League matches.

That has been despite a barren run from their talismanic forward, Wilfried Zaha who has gone 12 games without a goal or an assist for the Eagles.

Palace were caught napping and had the narrowest of escapes as Watford were a whisker away from taking the lead inside two minutes.

Gerard Deulofeu cheekily nutmegged James Tomkins before guiding his shot against the base of the post. Roberto Pereyra then struck the same upright as he attempted to convert the rebound.

There is no love lost between these two sides and Watford’s Etienne Capoue was booed with every touch at Selhurst Park as Palace fans remembered his dreadful tackle on Zaha in the reverse fixture, for which he was only booked.

But, for all the pace and passion, there was little attacking quality on show in the first half.

Palace were largely reduced to shots from distance as Watford sat deep, whilst the Hornets set up to break on the counter.

Troy Deeney, this week charged by the FA for comments towards referee David Coote, went close as he headed inches wide from Jose Holebas.

But Palace ended the half ahead after the scrappiest of goals following Luka Milivojevic’s corner.

Tomkins made the initial contact but, in trying to hack the ball clear, Abdoulaye Doucoure only struck Craig Cathcart and the ball looped back over the line.

Palace were then forced into a change as Vincente Guaita went off injured to be replaced by Wayne Hennessey, who is being investigated by the FA for an apparent Nazi salute in a photograph circulated on social media, taken following the FA Cup win over Grimsby.

Things could have been better for Palace had Paul Tierney awarded them a penalty when Milivojevic’s shot hit Adrian Mariappa’s arm on its route towards goal. The official was unmoved by the protests.

Zaha came to prominence at the start of the second half but failed with two good chances to score, particularly the first when he raced clear of the Watford defence but saw his tame shot saved by Ben Foster.

The Hornet’s were again indebted to Foster when he prevented Milivojevic scoring with a wonderful long-range half-volley which was moving in the air.

Just as all the momentum was with Palace, Watford equalised. It was Cathcart who atoned for his earlier misfortune as he headed in at the far post from Holebas’ corner.

With the pendulum shifting, Palace’s excellent young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka executed a perfectly-timed goal line clearance to prevent Deeney giving Watford the lead.

But from their next attack, they did just that as substitute Tom Cleverley volleyed into the top corner of Hennessey’s net after Milivojevic had attempted to head clear.

Roy Hodgson responded by bringing Christian Benteke off the bench for his first appearance since September 1st following injury.

Despite adding a presence to the Eagles’ front line, the Belgian saw little of the ball and Watford were victorious.