Survival for Big Sam remains on track

THE highlights of this game won’t take long to watch. Sam Allardyce, however, won’t care a jot.

Crystal Palace didn’t produce a single shot on target yet, somehow, managed a huge step towards survival thanks to Troy Deeney’s second-half own goal.

Watford, of course, count themselves unfortunate. But it’s not like they pulled up any trees either.

Two shots on target for them – both long-range efforts that hardly troubled Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey. After a worrying start to his Palace tenure, survival expert Allardyce is starting to work his magic, with three wins in a row.

This is what the club hired him for. He hasn’t been relegated from the Premier League in his career and with every passing week it looks like he will be retaining that proud record. ‘We had to tough it out against a huge and strong side, they are no mugs,’ said Allardyce. ‘The great escape is on. We have won three on the trot and we’ve made the team better and the squad is better.’

Watford’s relegation fears aren’t quite as profound as Palace’s, but they still linger.

Consecutive wins in February helped their cause, but one point from three since then has caused a few glances over their shoulder. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-2-1): Hennessey 6.5; Ward 6.5, Tomkins 7 (Dann 83min), Sakho, 7.5, Schlupp 6.5; Milivojevic 6.5, Cabaye 7 (Sako 87), Puncheon 6.5; Zaha 7, Townsend 6.5 (Delaney 87); Benteke 6. Subs (not used): Speroni, Campbell, Lee, Kelly. WATFORD (4-3-2-1): Gomes 6.5; Cathcart 6, Prodl 6, Kaboul 6.5, Britos 7; Capoue 6, Cleverley 6.5 (Success 80), Behrami 5.5 (Doucoure 46, 6); Janmaat 5.5 (Amrabat 63, 6), Niang 6; Deeney 6. Subs (not used): Pantilimon, Zuniga, Holebas, Okaka. Booked: Cleverley, Prodl. Referee: M Atkinson 6.5.