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Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0: Eagles edge towards survival with controversial draw

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Crystal Palace edged ever closer to Premier League survival with a draw at Watford.

Wilfried Zaha was at the centre of a diving row as Crystal Palace missed the chance to pull clear of the Premier League relegation zone when they were held to a draw by Watford.

Zaha was booked for diving in the second half at Vicarage Road after he went down under a challenge from Adrian Mariappa when it looked a clear penalty.

There was obvious contact from from the outstretched leg of Mariappa but referee Chris Kavanagh felt Zaha had dived.

Earlier in the match Watford players had accused Zaha of diving when he went down in the area under pressure from Christian Kabasele.

On that occasion Zaha appeared to lose his balance rather than dive but Watford players and the home crowd were incensed.

Zaha said recently his critics “jump on the bandwagon” over accusations about his diving and he looked to have been hard done by at Watford.

The result sees Palace move six points above the bottom three but they have played more games than all the teams below them.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Palace knew a win would boost their survival hopes but they were poor in the first half as Watford dominated the opening 45 minutes.

Stefano Okaka hit the bar with a header and Joel Ward almost turned the ball into his own net but Wayne Hennessey spared his blushes and Palace survived.

The first flashpoint involving Zaha came at the end of the first half when he went down in the area under pressure from Kabasele and wanted a penalty that was not given.

Zaha looked to have lost his balance but Abdoulaye Doucoure felt the Palace player had dived and then pushed him.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Doucoure took a risk because the Watford midfielder had already been booked but he was perhaps fortunate referee Kavanagh decided not to take any further action.

Palace improved after the interval and almost went ahead when Luka Milivojevic hit the bar from a free kick after Zaha has been fouled.

The second incident involving Zaha came on 63 minutes when he again went down in the area and this time was booked for diving.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

There appeared to be contact from Mariappa and it looked a clear penalty but Palace were denied much to the frustration of Roy Hodgson.

Palace then went close to a winner when James Tomkins headed against the post from a corner and Watford scrambled the ball clear.

Watford substitute Richarlison then fired over and the same player had a shot well saved by Hennessey as it ended all square.