Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace

This was the first time when there has only been one Premier League game at 3pm on a Saturday since 7 March 2015

Wilfried Zaha receives "attention he does not deserve" according to Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, despite another booking for diving.

Zaha was cautioned by referee Chris Kavanagh after going down inside the Watford penalty area following a challenge by Adrian Mariappa.

It was his fourth booking for simulation in the Premier League since the start of the 2015-16 season.

"I think he would have got the penalty in another game," said Hodgson.

• Reaction from Vicarage Road

Speaking to BBC Sport, Hodgson added: "When the rumours spread that he's a cheat and not the honest player he is, the crowd are led by that.

"He's given attention he doesn't deserve. Hopefully I'm not being one-eyed."

Media playback is not supported on this device

Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace: Premier League survival in our hands - Roy Hodgson

In a scrappy match littered with eight yellow cards, Palace edged six points clear of the relegation zone after frustrating Watford.

The visitors were twice denied by the woodwork after half-time, captain Luka Milivojevic hitting the bar from a free-kick before James Tomkins headed against a post.

Watford also struck the woodwork when Italian forward Stefano Okaka nodded Troy Deeney's cross against the bar.

The Eagles climb one place to 15th in the table.

Watford remain 12th, nine points clear of relegation with three games to go, although they have played more games than most teams below them.

More diving controversy for Zaha

Palace managed just one attempt on target in a scrappy game but Hodgson's side extended their unbeaten run at the business end of the season to three matches.

However, it was Zaha's 64th minute caution which proved the main talking point.

Palace's players appealed for a penalty but Watford's fans cheered when Kavanagh instead showed a card to the Palace forward.

Former England captain Terry Butcher, at the match for BBC Radio 5 live, claimed the referee got the decision wrong.

"On that occasion, Zaha's legs were taken out from underneath him and that was a penalty for me," said Butcher.

"That was a penalty beyond any doubt."

Watford all but safe despite win-less run

While Palace's run-in includes home games against mid-table Leicester and bottom club West Brom, as well as an away match at struggling Stoke, Watford's final three games are tougher on paper.

The Hornets have to travel to face fourth-placed Tottenham and second-placed Manchester United, while their final home match is against in-form Newcastle.

Fortunately Javier Gracia's side have a healthy cushion between themselves and the relegation zone.

Asked whether Watford already had enough points to stay up, Gracia said: " I don't care in this moment if it's enough or not.

"The most important thing is to prepare for the next game and try to get three points."

Media playback is not supported on this device

Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace: Javi Gracia praises Hornets' first half performance

Watford are limping towards the finishing line. They are without a win in six games and have managed two points from the last 18 on offer.

They carved out the better chances against Palace but for the fourth time in six games they failed to find the net.

Okaka's fourth minute header which struck the bar set the tone for a frustrating afternoon.

Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey saved well from team-mate Joel Ward after Deeney's cross cannoned off the Palace defender while substitute Richarlison wasted a late chance to seal the points.

There was another controversial incident, before Zaha's booking, when Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure pushed the Palace forward following another penalty appeal.

The run-in - who plays who?

Watford	Crystal Palace
v Tottenham Hotspur (a) 30 April	v Leicester City (h) 28 April
v Newcastle United (h) 5 May	v Stoke City (a) 5 May
v Manchester United (a) 13 May	v West Bromwich Albion (h) 13 May

Man of the match - Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace)

Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins were excellent at the heart of the Palace defence as Watford were frustrated. Sakho made some vital clearances and had the best passing accuracy of any Palace player - 86.5%

Target practice - the stats

• Watford equalled their season-best tally for first-half shots in the Premier League in this game (11), but only mustered three in the second period.
• Crystal Palace have picked up eight points in their last five Premier League games (W2 D2 L1), after accruing just two from their previous seven in the competition.
• Palace directed just one shot on target in this game; on only two occasions in the Premier League this season have they managed fewer (0 v Man City in September and 0 v Newcastle in October).

What's next?

Watford are back in Premier League action on 30 April when they face Tottenham at Wembley (20:00 BST) while Crystal Palace entertain Leicester City at Selhurst Park (15:00) on 28 April.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Watford

• 30Karnezis
• 6MariappaBooked at 60mins
• 15CathcartBooked at 89mins
• 27Kabasele
• 25Holebas
• 19HughesSubstituted forGrayat 79'minutes
• 16DoucouréBooked at 29mins
• 29Capoue
• 37PereyraSubstituted forRicharlisonat 55'minutes
• 9Deeney
• 33OkakaSubstituted forFemeníaat 70'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Gomes
• 2Janmaat
• 3Britos
• 11Richarlison
• 17Sinclair
• 18Gray
• 21Femenía

Crystal Palace

• 13Hennessey
• 2WardBooked at 21mins
• 5TomkinsBooked at 88mins
• 12Sakho
• 3van AanholtBooked at 45mins
• 18McArthurSubstituted forBentekeat 81'minutes
• 4Milivojevic
• 7Cabaye
• 8Loftus-CheekBooked at 78mins
• 10Townsend
• 11ZahaBooked at 63mins

Substitutes

• 1Speroni
• 9Sørloth
• 14Lee
• 17Benteke
• 29Wan-Bissaka
• 34Kelly
• 44Riedewald

Referee:

Chris Kavanagh

Attendance:

20,401

Match Stats

Home TeamWatfordAway TeamCrystal Palace

Possession

Home52%

Away48%

Shots

Home14

Away6

Shots on Target

Home4

Away1

Corners

Home4

Away3

Fouls

Home17

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Watford 0, Crystal Palace 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Watford 0, Crystal Palace 0.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 90'+3'

Andre Gray (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Adrian Mariappa (Watford).

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 90'+1'

José Holebas (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Offside, Crystal Palace. Wilfried Zaha tries a through ball, but Andros Townsend is caught offside.

Booking

Posted at 89'

Craig Cathcart (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 89'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Craig Cathcart (Watford).

Booking

Posted at 88'

James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 88'

Richarlison (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 87'

Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Richarlison (Watford).

Posted at 85'

Kiko Femenía (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 84'

Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace).

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke replaces James McArthur.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andre Gray.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Richarlison (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Troy Deeney.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces Will Hughes.

Booking

Posted at 78'

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Richarlison (Watford) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left.

Posted at 71'

Attempt blocked. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick van Aanholt.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Watford. Kiko Femenía replaces Stefano Okaka.

Posted at 69'

James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Yohan Cabaye with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.

Posted at 68'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Etienne Capoue.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Christian Kabasele.

Posted at 65'

Craig Cathcart (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).

Booking

Posted at 63'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 63'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) has gone down, but that's a dive.

Posted at 62'

Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) hits the bar with a right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left from a direct free kick.

Posted at 61'

Foul by Adrian Mariappa (Watford).

Show more updates