Roy raging as Zaha is ‘targeted’
ETIENNE CAPOUE was accused of trying to “target” Palace star Wilfried Zaha after Watford moved into Liverpool’s slipstream at the top of the Premier League.
Watford midfielder Capoue escaped with just a caution after he raked his studs down the back of Zaha’s leg in the seventh minute.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “We have to get used to that. Players of his ability do get targeted.
“We were unlucky Capoue was not sent off. It affected Wilf. We didn’t see anything like the best of him until late in the game. One can understand that.”
Watford’s win, thanks to goals from Roberto Pereyra and Jose Holebas, saw them maintain their 100 per cent start and manager Javi Gracia said: “It’s very difficult to win in the Premier League, so to get three wins in a row is special, amazing.
“We are enjoying the moment knowing it’s only the beginning, but we have done three important steps. But only three. We need to keep going. But everybody’s happy.”
They ought to be. Following a summer when the signings were modest and they lost Richarlison to Everton, Watford were tipped by many to go down. They forgot to tell the players and their boss.
Gracia has moulded his men into a band of brothers. No other Watford manager has won three Premier League games
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in a row. It might have been different had Capoue been sent off, and Ben Foster did well to deny Christian Benteke.
James McCarthy could also have scored after he was picked out by Andros Townsend.
Pereyra was not to be denied in the 53rd minute. Following a superb 40-yard surge, Capoue picked out the Argentinian to his left.
He cut inside and curled the ball sweetly inside the left post.
In the 71st minute Holebas struck. Out on the left, he shook off Townsend and bent in a cross which dipped at the far post to loop over a deceived Wayne Hennessey.
In the 78th minute Zaha woke up. Exchanging passes with Max Meyer, he burst in from the left and smashed home from an acute angle.
Palace could have stolen a draw, but Joel Ward missed a great headed chance.
WATFORD (4-4-2):