Date: 27th September 2015 at 8:39am
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Watford have been the most successful of the promoted clubs so far with nine points from their opening six matches, and have impressed many with their dynamic attacking play.

A home game against Crystal Palace should be a good gauge at how far they have come as the Eagles are now an established Premier League team. A win here would really get Hornets fans excited and it would be the first time Watford had won three in a row in the top flight since April 1987.

Quique Sanchez Flores has been aided by a striker in red hot form with four goals in six games. Odion Ighalo’s two strikes last week secured the win at Newcastle and his 20 strikes in 2015 is more than anyone else in the top four English divisions. The defence have also impressed at Vicarage Road with no goals conceded at home so far. Valon Behrami will be suspended for this game but Joel Ekstrand remains the only injury absentee.

1 August 2015 - Pre-Season Friendly - Fulham v Crystal Palace - Alan Pardew, Manager of Crystal Palace - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Crystal Palace’s terrific start to the season has stalled somewhat with two narrow defeats to Manchester City and Tottenham. It seems they don’t do September very well with only four Premier League wins in the 23 games they have played in this month. A more pleasing statistic is that they have lost only once to Watford in nine attempts. and they will look to continue this record in the first Premier League meeting between the sides.

Eagles boss Alan Pardew will be looking for his side to keep their first clean sheet this season but he has a number of injury concerns in defence.

Scott Dann and Damien Delaney are both doubtful while Joel Ward is out until next month with a knee injury. Joe Ledley could return after playing in the win over Charlton in midweek, but Connor Wickham is doubtful and Marouane Chamakh is definitely out. Dwight Gayle could have put himself in contention with his hat-trick on Wednesday but Bakary Sako or Yannick Bolasie are more likely to lead the line.

League Position: Watford – 10th, 9pts; Crystal Palace – 8th, 9pts
Last Meeting: Watford 0-1 Crystal Palace, May 2013
Form: Watford – DDDLWW; Crystal Palace – WLWWLL
Key Men:
  Watford – Odion Ighalo; Crystal Palace – Bakary Sako

24 January 2015 - Sky Bet Championship - Watford v Blackpool - Odion Ighalo of Watford celebrates scoring the sixth goal. Photo: Ryan Smyth/Offside

Shoot Says: Watford 2-2 Crystal Palace

 
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