Battle-hardened Pearson plotting second escape act

NIGEL PEARSON has been here before. He knows what it is like to stare relegation in the face only to have the last laugh. Pearson also knows how to change the mindset of a group of players who are hurting and turn them into a strong unit ready to do what is required of them. Pearson’s Leicester side were in the mire for the majority of the 2014-15 campaign but eventually it clicked in April — when they took 19 points from eight games before securing their Premier League status on the last day of the season. It is far from mission impossible at Vicarage Road. Just six points separate Watford in bottom place and Aston Villa in 17th. No doubt that was what he made clear to his new players who he spoke to along with caretaker manager Hayden Mullins before and after this dull goalless draw against Crystal Palace in which neither side had a shot on target in the first half. ‘He came before the kick-off and said “play with the passion”,’ said midfielder Etienne Capoue. ‘You can see that he is ready to challenge us and to make us win very quickly.’ And that has been Watford’s problem this season. From 16 matches, they have managed just one win — away to Norwich. But this is by no means a team of no-marks and it is now up to Pearson, Watford’s third manager of the season, to fill in the blanks. Not that it will happen immediately, after all... next up is Liverpool away.

WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Foster 6; Femenia 6, Kabasele 6, Cathcart 6, Masina 6; Doucoure 6.5 (Chalobah 78min), Capoue 6; Sarr 7, Deulofeu 7, Pereyra 6.5 (Gray 77); Deeney 6. Subs not used: Gomes, Mariappa, Hughes, Success, Foulquier. Booked: Cathcart, Doucoure, Femenia, Capoue. Manager: Hayden Mullins 6.5. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-2-1): Guaita 6.5; Kelly 6, Tomkins 6, CAHILL 7.5, Schlupp 6 (Riedewald 46, 6); Kouyate 6 (McCarthy 83), Milivojevic 6, McArthur 6; Townsend 6.5 (Benteke 73, 6), Zaha 6.5; Ayew 6. Subs not used: Hennessey, Dann, Wickham, Camarasa. Booked: Zaha, Tomkins. Manager: Roy Hodgson 6. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6. Attendance: 20,070.