C Palace 1 – 0 Watford

Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty was enough for Crystal Palace to beat Watford 1-0, confirming the Hornets’ relegation from the Premier League.

Despite plenty of pre-match pleasantries, it was an unhappy return for Roy Hodgson to Selhurst Park – back at the club for the first time since his departure as manager last summer – with his side’s return to the Championship confirmed on Saturday afternoon.

The issue was ultimately decided in the first half when Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty. Michael Olise’s header hit Hassane Kamara on the arm, although the Watford midfielder protested that he was pushed in the build-up.

But VAR did not agree and stuck with referee Graham Scott’s decision to award the penalty, which Zaha fired home into the far corner. It was his 13th goal of the season, making this his best-ever goalscoring campaign in the Premier League.

Watford offered very little by way of a reply – registering just one shot on target – and finished the game with 10 men when Kamara was sent off for a second yellow card in the 69th minute. He will now miss Wednesday’s game against Everton, although it is no longer a relegation decider for Watford.

As for Crystal Palace, a solid season under Patrick Vieira keeps building. They have now kept four successive clean sheets at Selhurst Park, doing so for the first time since December 2012 in the Championship. They move into ninth place ahead of the remaining games this weekend.

More to follow…

What’s next?

Crystal Palace have two immediate away trips to think about, with Patrick Vieira’s side going to Aston Villa next weekend, before facing Everton at Goodison Park four days later. The Eagles end the season with a home game against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Already-relegated Watford also face Everton in the Premier League season run-in, with the Hornets hosting the Toffees on Wednesday. Leicester City are then the visitors to Vicarage Road on the following Sunday, before Roy Hodgson’s final game in the Watford dugout away at Chelsea on May 22.