December 12 2017

James McArthur

Crystal Palace scored two goals in the last few minutes of the game to beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Roy Hodgson made just one forced change to the lineup which drew 2-2 against Bournemouth at the weekend. Scott Dann came into the side to replace Mamadou Sakho who is out for several weeks with a calf injury.

The Eagles got off to a terrible start, going behind after only three minutes. Daryl Janmaat was left free in the box to head home Richarlison's cross.

Watford had further chances to increase their lead - Dann denied Janmaat, Troy Deeney was inches away from a tap in, and Julian Speroni saved from Richarlison.

In the second half Palace struggled to get any shots on target, but the game turned completely in the 87th minute when Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Jeffrey Schlupp.

The Eagles then sprung into life, and looked dangerous in attack. Two minutes after the red they were level.

Wilfried Zaha, who had been frustrated by the Hornet's defence throughout the game, took a shot at goal, which was saved by Heurelho Gomes but the ball fell into the path of Sako who managed to bundle the ball across the line at the second attempt.

Palace continued their attacking threat into injury time, and grabbed a shock winner. Two minutes into stoppage time, Zaha beat Janmaat with some great skill and crossed to James McArthur who swept the ball home from eight yards out.

The win put Palace into 17th place, and out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Proud of the team today and the way we battled to get the win we deserved ???????????? #CPFC #GodIsGreat pic.twitter.com/VzC7ZyJxEn

— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha) December 12, 2017

Palace: Speroni, Fosu-Mensah (Sako, 70), Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp, Townsend (van Aanholt, 67), Cabaye (McArthur, 77), Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek, Zaha, Benteke

Subs not used: Hennessey, Lee, Kelly, Riedewald

Watford: Gomes, Mariappa, Prödl, Kabasele, Janmaat, Cleverley, Doucouré, Holebas, Carrillo (Pereyra, 71), Richarlison (Femenía, 84), Deeney (Gray, 80)

Subs not used: Success, Watson, Capoue, Karnezis

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