Watford continue perfect start with dogged win over Crystal Palace

Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace: Second-half goals from Roberto Pereyra and Jose Holebas were enough for the Hornets to make it three wins out of three

Watford maintained their perfect start to the season thanks to second half goals from Roberto Pereyra and Jose Holebas. Not for the first time, though, Crystal Palace left Vicarage Road aggrieved at the treatment of Wilfried Zaha and believing they had found themselves on the wrong end of a controversial decision.

Pereyra and Holebas provided the finishes that secured victory for Javi Gracia’s side who join Liverpool on nine points at the head of the early Premier League table with Palace unable to build on Zaha’s 77th minute reply.

Watford’s victory was deserved but having been aggrieved at the penalty decision that contributed to his side’s defeat to Liverpool last Monday, Roy Hodgson was again entitled to feel things had not gone his side’s way.

Had referee Anthony Taylor decided Etienne Capoue’s fourth minute challenge on Zaha was worthy of more than a yellow card - and television replays suggested it was - the outcome of this game might well have been very different.

The midfielder jumped two-footed against the back of Zaha’s legs and Palace were rightly incensed by the tackle.

The incident ensured Zaha was once again the focus of attention at Vicarage Road. The winger insisted last season there was an agenda against him when he was booked for diving here while the season before, the Watford mascot has infuriated the Palace bench by throwing himself to the floor, apparently mocking the player over allegations of diving.

Zaha himself was booked for challenge on Jose Holebas three minutes later after the clash with Capoue, setting the tone for a fractious first half in which both sides should have made more of a succession of good chances that came their way.

Capoue was lucky to escape a red for his early challenge on Zaha (Getty Images)

Palace, anxious to bounce back after running Liverpool close, started the more convincingly and would have gone ahead had Christian Benteke met Andros Townsend’s cross with a more convincing diving header or left the ball to Zaha who was better placed at the far post.

With only one goal to his name since January, Benteke is in desperate need of a lift in front of goal but he again missed out when another headed chance, again following a Townsend cross, but was well saved by Ben Foster, the Watford keeper.

Foster again stood between Palace and an early lead when. He saved well from James McArthur’s shot as the visitors threatened to overwhelm Gracia’s side. However, the balance of the game shifted and it became clear the Eagles would live to regret those missed opportunities the longer the game progressed.

Pereyra scored his side's first goal (PA)

Pereyra began to feature more prominently and was unfortunate to see a volley deflect off McArthur and over the bar before testing Wayne Hennessey, the Palace keeper, with a powerful shot. It was not until the scene half, though, that Argentine unpicked the visitors’s defence to give the Hornets a 53rd minute lead.

Hennessey had already been called on to deny Will Hughes with a point blank save immediately after the restart but the keeper had no chance of denying Pereyra when the midfielder cut in from the left and curled a right-footed shot inside the far post. It didn’t help Palace’s mood that the opening was created by a powerful run from deep by Capoue.

Holebas' fortunate strike proved crucial (REUTERS)

Watford were dominant with Palace forced to spend long periods on the back foot and the home side made the pressure tell in the 71t minute when Holebas produced a goal to rival Pereyra’s earlier effort.

The left back received the ball close to the touchline before moving inside and sending a dipping curling shot over the head of Hennessey from a tight angle, outside the area.

Zaha revived Palace’s hopes with a powerful 77th minute shot, drilled between the legs of Foster after exchanging passes with substitute Max Meyer and had Joel Ward not sent a late header wide, the comeback would have been complete.