12 Jun 2019
The first of the four FA Cup quarter-finals takes place on Saturday lunch-time, and this all-Premier League affair promises to be a fascinating London Derby.
Watford have enjoyed a remarkable season and are on the cusp of a European place next season, just a point behind seventh-placed Wolves, with that prized seventh spot offering a place in the Europa League next season.
Crystal Palace should be safe from relegation, although after their 2-1 home defeat by Brighton last weekend means they are just five points ahead of third-from-bottom Cardiff.
While Palace have been poor in front of goal at Selhurst Park with just 11 home league goals scored there all season, it is a different story away from home.
Palace’s only defeat on the road in their last seven has come at title-chasing Liverpool and they have won five of the others, including wins at Manchester City, Wolves and Leicester.
Watford have only been defeated by a team lower in the table once at Vicarage Road this season, however – and that came at the hands of Bournemouth when they were reduced to 10 men.
Javier Garcia’s Hornets have been in impressive form of late and they have won seven, drawn three and lost three in their last 13 games since the turn of the year.
The Genting Casino football odds have Watford as favourites to win the FA Cup quarter-final tie at 11/8.
Crystal Palace, who have scored at least once in seven of their last eight visits to Vicarage Road, are on offer at 21/10. The draw, which has occurred in five of the last 24 meetings, is available at 23/10.
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Watford boss Javi Gracia has a full squad to choose from, with defender Miguel Britos having shaken off the leg problem he picked up in last weekend’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City.
Garcia could give keeper Heurelho Gomes a run-out and it may be one of the last occasions we see the veteran, as he is set to retire at the end of the season.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has played a few fringe players in the competition thus far, but with no Premier League game for a couple of weeks after this, thanks to the international break, he is likely to field his stringest side.
Pape Souare has been absent with a shoulder injury, but he is likely to come into contention following injury concerns Mamadou Sakho and Bakary Sako.
Sakho has a knee injury that could end his season, and Sako remains short of match fitness.
PALACE TO GET A RESULT?
Hodgson’s side have not been in bad form of late, despite the loss to the Seagulls. They have won seven of their last 13 and lost just four.
The reason they play better away from home is that they can exploit the pace of Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend on the break. Zaha is always a threat and it is no surprise to see him at 12/5 to score at any time. He is 13/2 to score the first goal.
Watford won both Premier League games this season, beating Palace 2-1 both home and away, but that was Palace’s first defeat at Vicarage Road in their last eight visits, so there may be a few who think that Palace to win or draw on the Double Chance market might be worth a play at odds of 4/7.
Furthermore, Palace have not lost three in row against Watford since a trio of defeats from April 1935 to March 1936.
Either way, this game will not require a replay, as it is extra-time and penalties, and the odds for Palace to qualify are 11/10. The hosts are available at 4/6 to reach the semi-finals.
Five of the last eight meetings saw at least three total goals scored and it is 19/20 that over 2.5 goals are scored in this clash.
Palace have led at half-time in 10 of their 19 away games this season, which is an astonishing statistic, so some will look to play Palace at half-time and the draw at full-time at odds of 11/1. However, some may fancy a 1-1 draw at half-time at tasty odds of 13/2.
For all the odds on this big FA Cup clash, click here.
