A Yohan Cabaye penalty hands Palace the points away to Watford. Alex McCarthy is dropped as the Eagles register their first clean sheet of the season, whilst the Hornets defence is finally breached at Vicarage Road.
Cabaye Wins it for Palace
The Eagles edged past Watford courtesy of Yohan Cabaye’s 71st minute spot-kick – the Frenchman’s second goal this term. A permanent assignment to penalty duty would certainly add another string to the summer signing’s bow and augment his appeal at the 6.4 mark, with Alan Pardew confirming post-match that Cabaye is the number one taker.
Wilfried Zaha bagged the assist for Cabaye’s strike after being felled in the box by Watford’s Allan Nyom. The former Manchester United recruit emerged from the bench just after the hour mark and proved to be the game changer in an otherwise tepid affair –strengthening his case to start next time out after he was dropped to the bench for the first time this term, with Pardew criticising his display away to Spurs in the previous Gameweek.
Palace’s attacking contingent as a whole deserve scrutiny ahead of a strong trio of fixtures (WBA, WHU, lei). The likes of Cabaye, Sako (5.6), Jason Puncheon (5.9) and Yannick Bolasie (6.2) all harbour the potential to be profitable pick-ups in the mid-priced bracket over that stretch. The fact that the London outfit sit sixth in the league despite already facing Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City underlines their impressive form this campaign.
McCarthy Benched for Shut Out
The Eagles’ first clean sheet of the season coincided with Pardew’s decision to drop Alex McCarthy to the bench for the first time this term. Wayne Hennessey – at just 3.9 in FPL – got the nod ahead of the former QPR keeper, and with Pardew admitting on Friday that Julian Speroni still needs a few Under 21 matches to build up his fitness, it seems the Argentine is not quite ready to return from a hand injury quite yet. Sitting in over 13% of FPL teams, the budget-friendly McCarthy is the third most popular stopper in the game but his owners will need to make other plans if he misses out again.
Although Pardew will be delighted that the Eagles have triumphed in nine of their 12 road ties under his stewardship, the clean sheet against Watford was just their second in 21 matches. West Bromwich Albion’s visit to Selhurst Park next Gameweek could engender back-to-back shut-outs – given that no side has netted fewer goals (four) than the Baggies this term – but subsequent match-ups against the league’s joint top scorers (West Ham and Leicester) are less promising in that regard.
Watford Run Halted
The Hornets failed to make it three wins on the trot but will be encouraged by another relatively solid defensive display – Cabaye’s disputed spot-kick is the first time they have conceded at Vicarage Road in four matches this season. Only three teams have conceded fewer goals than Quique Sanchez Flores’ men (six), illustrating the budget potential of their rearguard assets ahead of a decent quintet of fixtures (bou, ARS, sto, WHU, lei). Although right-back Allan Nyom leads the way amongst Watford defenders for points (26), Heurelho Gomes has racked up 34 points and may appeal to those in need of a new keeper.
Yesterday’s loss was the fourth time in six matches that Watford failed to find the back of the net. Despite that, Odion Ighalo (21) and Troy Deeney (20) both rank in the top seven among forwards for attempts in the first seven Gameweeks. The former – who’s valued at 5.1 and was drafted in by over 150,000 FPL managers last week – boasts three goals in as many starts but was unable to test the keeper with a trio of wayward shots against Palace. With a visit to a Bournemouth side that have shipped 11 goals this season next on the agenda, Ighalo may yet appeal to those looking for a cut-price alternative to the Cherries’ Callum Wilson.
