It had been a long time coming, but finally Watford have their revenge. After losing to Crystal Palace in the 2013 Championship play-off final and the 2016 FA Cup semi-final, they have made it past their bogey team. As the crowd sang loud at the final whistle, Javi Gracia’s side are on their way to Wembley. And in the process they have consigned Roy Hodgson to another season without an FA Cup semi-final appearance.
In truth, the chances of the veteran manager breaking his duck had looked in doubt from the moment the teams were announced. Palace arrived in Hertfordshire without Wilfried Zaha, who was suffering from a sore hamstring.
“Quality is very hard to replace,” was Hodgson’s forlorn analysis.
How Palace could have done with their talisman on a day when a capricious wind whipped around Vicarage Road. From the kick off, sustained possession quickly became a rarity. But Watford adapted better to the swirl. Gerard Deulofeu, playing ahead of Troy Deeney at the spearhead of the Watford attack, was particularly adept. While his strike partner charged at Palace’s defenders every time the ball came near them (and often when it was nowhere near) Deulofeu was neat and subtle in his work. He was involved as Watford won a flurry of early corners. And from one, swung in with intent by Jose Holebas, Vicente Guaita, the Palace keeper, under pressure from – who else - Deeney failed properly to apply a punch. The ball landed at the feet of Craig Cathcart, whose deft lay-off was dispatched into the net by Etienne Capoue.
Palace took their time responding. That their best player was the full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka spoke volumes: they had little up front, not much more in midfield. Deulofeu was now beginning to exercise control, shooting whenever he had the chance, from free-kicks, from open play, anything to test the keeper in the wind. And Guaita responded with a fine save from his crisp shot moments after the opening goal.
As the wind churned and a flock of Palace balloons momentarily held up play, it was getting fruity on the pitch: Luka Milivojevic was booked for reckless foul on Hughes before Holebas injured his ankle making a superb sliding tackle on Andros Townsend.
Palace, meanwhile, needed to find a response. Hodgson clearly had words at half-time. His team began the second half with much more bite. Propelled by the wind, they pushed Watford on to the back foot. The mark of the change of momentum came when Michy Batshuayi charged down Adrian Mariappa, stole forward and struck a fine shot under Heurelho Gomes. The keeper, who was potentially playing his last ever game at Vicarage Road before retiring at the end of the season, looked distraught.
Moments later, Batshuayi outran the substitute Adam Masina and set up Max Meyer, who miskicked. There was then a horrible scramble in the Palace area, when Roberto Pereyra tried to lob the keeper, but succeeded only in striking his hands. Any moments of good build-up were compromised by rush, panic and wind. It was that sort of game: a mess.
But then came the moment that changed everything. Javi Gracia sent on the substitute Andre Gray and within two minutes he was charging forward, feeding the ball to Pereyra. The Argentine returned the favour with a delightful chip in behind the Palace defence. Gray, timing his run perfectly, slipped the ball past Guaita.
As time ebbed away, Palace tried. James Tomkins poked wide from a corner, before Wan Bissaka hit a firm shot past the post. But Watford held on, Deeney smartly taking the ball into the corner for what seemed like the last half hour. Which meant Gracia could head into the international week wearing a broad smile.
“I need a break,” he said. “After this I am going to enjoy it a lot.”
Watford (4-2-2-2): Gomes 6; Femina 6, Cathcart 6, Mariappa 5, Holebas 6 (Masina 46); Doucoure 6, Capoue 6; Pereyra 6, Hughes 6 (Gray 76); Deulofeu 8 (Cleverley 87) Deeney 6
Subs not used: Dahlberg, Janmaat, Success, Kabasele
Yellow card: Masina
Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Guaita 5; Wan-Bissaka 7, Kelly 6, Tomkins 6, Schlupp 5; Kouyate 5, Milivojevic 5, McArthur 5 (Benteke 82); Meyer 5, Townsend 6, Batshuayi 6
Subs not used: Hennessey, Ward, Ayew, Wickham, Woods, Riedewald
Yellow card: Milivojevic