Crystal Palace vs Watford - Pardew's hopes of attacking talents

Posted Saturday, February 13, 2016 by PA

Alan Pardew believes the next couple of weeks will define Crystal Palace's season - and he hopes the return to fitness of key players can inspire the Eagles to success.

A season which began with such promise has in recent weeks threatened to end in disappointment amid Palace's inability to secure a Barclays Premier League win since mid-December.

They have been undermined by Yannick Bolasie's absence, owing to a calf injury, and at various times have also been without Yohan Cabaye, Dwight Gayle and Connor Wickham.

Each provide a creative or attacking threat and it is in the final third where Palace, who have scored only six goals in their past 10 games, have struggled.

But with Cabaye's return in last week's 1-1 draw at Swansea, and Wickham and Gayle available on Saturday against Watford, Pardew thinks his 12th-placed team can climb the league table and enjoy a run in the FA Cup.

"We need to collect points, and we're at a pivotal part of the season really," said the Palace manager, who also expects Bolasie, Bakary Sako and Joe Ledley to return for next week's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Tottenham.

"For us and the injury crisis that we've had, to get a win on Saturday and with the guys we've got coming back is going to be a massive boost for us.

"We have Gayley hopefully available for (Watford), he's trained so far this week so fingers crossed with him. Connor obviously returns in terms of selection after his ban so it's a little bit better."

That Palace remained inconsistent in front of goal before Wickham's suspension did much to inspire the arrival, on a free transfer, of Emmanuel Adebayor last month.

The striker made his full debut at Swansea and, after being without a club since September, continued to lack sharpness, but despite the returns of Wickham and Gayle he will again start at home to Watford.

"In terms of fitness, his levels at Swansea were really good," said Pardew. "I don't see a problem in that, but your instinct of where a ball is going to go, how it's going to land, where it's going to bounce, that kind of action in the Premier League is key."

Watford have endured their own drought but Quique Sanchez Flores says he is "not afraid" by their lack of goals.

The Hornets have failed to find the net in four of their last five Premier League matches and with just one victory in eight, you could not blame Flores for fearing his side, newly-promoted from the Championship this season, may get dragged into a relegation battle.

While Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney have formed one of the best partnerships in the league - sharing 20 goals between them - only seven further goals have been added outside Watford's front two.

But Flores said: "I am not afraid about the goals. Our balance is zero and we have scored as many goals as we have conceeded.

"Against Chelsea we had chances, and against Newcastle we created chances. Apart from the match against Tottenham we were creating the same number or more chances than our opponent."

Deeney could be restored to the team after starting on the bench in the defeat at Tottenham while Valon Behrami is also in contention.

Defender Miguel Britos is a doubt after sustaining an injury against Spurs while Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) remain sidelined.

Flores, whose side are seven points shy of the magic 40-point mark, added: "They (Palace) are in the same situation as us. They are looking for a good run and they want to change the dynamic.

"But for us it is a good opportunity to play against Crystal Palace and if we win we go into the top half."