Sam Allardyce was denied victory on his return to management after losing the England job as Crystal Palace were held away from home by Watford
Sam Allardyce 's reign as Crystal Palace boss has started with a 1-1 draw after his side were held by Watford.
Yohan Cabaye had given Palace a first-half lead but Troy Deeney 's 100th goal for Watford which came from the spot was enough to earn the Hornets a well-earned point after Christian Benteke had missed a chance to double Palace's lead from 12 yards.
A change in manager usually leads to players showing a greater desire to impress, and that was the case during the first half as Palace dominated for large periods against a Watford team who were hindered by two injuries in the first 15 minutes.
Both Daryl Janmaat and Valon Behrami had to be substituted and it came at a time when both
Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend were threatening at every given opportunity down the flanks.
Palace only had long-range strikes from Townsend and Cabaye to show for their work in the opening quarter of the game, but they deservedly went in front on 26 minutes when the pair combined down the right to give Cabaye the chance to fire low into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Ten minutes later, the visitors should have doubled their advantage when Christian Benteke was floored by Heurelho Gomes in the penalty area as he attempted to make a clearance, but the Brazilian stopper redeemed himself by saving the forward's spot kick down to his left.
The reprieve provided Watford with a second wind but they went into half time having failed to pose any kind of threat on Wayne Hennessey's goal as Palace edged closer to just a second clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
The first 15 minutes of the second half featured efforts from Townsend, Adlene Guedioura and
Odion Ighalo but none of the trio was able to get their shot on target as both goalkeepers remained under-worked.
That pattern of play continued until the final 20 minutes when Watford equalised from the spot after Damien Delaney was adjudged to have pulled down Sebastian Prodl when a corner was delivered into the penalty area.
It gave Deeney the chance to finally reach three figures in a Watford shirt and he made no mistake from 12 yards as he lashed the ball down the middle of the goal.
Palace could have equalised within minutes of Watford drawing level but Scott Dann failed to make the most of a header after being found by a free kick sent in from the left.
Back up the other end, Ighalo could have perhaps done better with a header from eight yards but he could only direct it into the hands of Hennessey, and that remained the last clear-cut chance as the game entered added-on time.
Guedioura forced Hennessey into a relatively comfortable save with a left-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area but neither side offered enough in the final third to be able to claim all three points.
Scorers [ Deeney 71' penalty ] [ Cabaye 26' ]
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