No fears over tricky striker

before the home side’s mascot, Harry the Hornet, mocked him with a comedy dive on the final whistle.

Big Sam did not see the funny side of a man dressed as an insect falling down, saying the furry cheerleader was “out of order” and urging the FA to intervene.

Adapt

But Gracia has no special plans to stop the Eagles’ match-winner, saying: “Our game plan is always different because every week you face something different and you need to adapt.

“I don’t like to pinpoint one player. But if you ask me about Zaha I can say he’s a very good player whose style of play involves a lot of dribbles and attacking situations involving contact.

“It’s normal that there will be contact in different situations and with different opinions.

“I don’t see anything different or anything special about Zaha in those moments.

“It’s difficult (to tell defenders not to tackle him) because if you want to defend well, you have to stay close and sometimes be in contact with these players.

“We always try to avoid fouls in all our games, not just this one because we are playing Palace or players like Zaha.”

Gracia ended his 210-day wait for Watford to score an away goal in the 3-1 win at Burnley last weekend.

It was also the Hornets’ first win on the road in 267 days. But the Spaniard insists there was no monkey off his back and no burden lifted, saying: “I didn’t feel that pressure because I prefer to live my life this way.

“I have only been interested in doing my best, making the biggest possible effort every day and trying to prepare the team to play well in the next game.

“It’s my mentality to work like that – when I am stressed, it doesn’t help me to do my job any better.

“We know what we have to do, and it doesn’t make things any better if I shout a lot at the players.

“I need to be calm and it’s about speaking to the players in a way that you can explain to them what you want.”