And that, my MBM pals, is your lot. Congratulations to Watford, who are the first name into the hat for the semi-finals; commiserations to Palace, whose cup dream is over for another year. Ed Aarons was our man at Vicarage Road; here’s his report. Enjoy!
A very subdued Roy Hodgson talks to BT. “It was a good second goal, obviously against the run of play. I thought we were doing quite well. We were looking quite good. But these games are won and lost on small margins, and Watford had a good period in the first half with a succession of corner kicks and scored off one of them. But these games when the wind is swirling is hard, because both teams can’t get the ball down to play. I thought we were unfortunate not to bring the game into extra time at least, but they scored a good goal and that’s the end of it. Every defeat is hard to take. The target from the start of the season is to make certain that we are in the Premier League next year, and that is by no means certain. So we have to concentrate on the eight games left to play. We need some more points. We believe we are capable of getting those points. The cup has been a nice bonus, and it’s a pity that has gone away today.”
Javi Gracia speaks to BT Sport. “I am very happy because it was a good chance for us. To be able to enjoy a semi-final at Wembley will be amazing for us. We try to play all of our games the same way, try to do our best. We will focus on our next game in the Premier League, but when the FA Cup semi comes we will be ready. First half we were better, but in the second we lost possession and defended in our half, they played better than us. We tried to be more offensive with Andre up front, and him scoring with one touch is no surprise. I trust all my players. They play really well. Heurelho Gomes is a special personality, we will see what happens in the next game, but I am very happy with him. We are ambitious, we will try to enjoy every game.”
Watford hero Andre Gray speaks! “We knew there was a lot of space in behind. We took our foot off the gas a bit, so I came on and tried to put some energy back into the team. I managed to nick the winner. More importantly, we’re all going to Wembley now. Obviously every player wants to start, but there are two ways of going about it. You can sit there and sulk, or you just get on with it. I’ve been on the bench quite a lot this season, so I’ve got my mind round it now, and I’ve just got to come on and try to make a difference.”
Emotional scenes as a tearful Heurelho Gomes says goodbye to the Watford faithful after what is likely to be his last appearance at Vicarage Road. A lap of honour and a respectful bow, as he thanks the crowd for their support over the years. He’s off to become a pastor. Will he get a run-out in the semi at Wembley, as Watford’s designated cup keeper? Or will Javi Gracia go with Ben Foster, now that the first major silverware in Watford’s history is a genuine prospect? That’s a big call for the Watford boss ... but one for another day. Gomes had a decent game today in testing conditions, and was part of a Watford side that thoroughly deserved to progress. Palace, a decent spell at the start of the second half apart, were second best.
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FULL TIME: Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Watford are on their way to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final! Roy Hodgson still hasn’t made it to the last four of the cup.
90 min +4: And then, for a second, it looks as though Palace are about to level at the death! Gomes flaps under a high ball, Benteke making a nuisance of himself. Capoue scuffs a clearance, and the ball lands at the feet of Wan-Bissaka, on the edge of the area. Gomes isn’t guarding the net, but Wan-Bissaka snatches at his shot, sending it flying wide of the left-hand post!
90 min +3: Watford are back down near Palace’s left-hand corner flag again. They’re so close to the semi-final!
90 min +2: Guaita launches one long. But it’s soon coming back at Palace, Deeney and Doucoure combining down the left, eating up more time.
90 min +1: Some fine game management by Watford, who spend a little time deep in Palace territory by the left corner flag.
90 min: There will be four added minutes.
89 min: That’s Deulofeu’s afternoon over. He’s replaced by Tom Cleverley, after taking his own sweet time to depart. Then Wan-Bissaka flings a long throw in from the right, forcing a corner. It’s hit long, and flicked on by Benteke to Tomkins at the far post, six yards out. A decent half-chance, but one the defender snatches at, sending a poor shot wide left.
87 min: A lot of space for Deulofeu down the right. Gray is free in the middle, but his team-mate doesn’t see him. Schlupp holds up Deulofeu, who eventually looks for Gray with a looping cross that’s easily snaffled by Guaita.
86 min: Watford had a couple of big chances there, but Palace have somehow survived and are still in this. It’s going to be a tense end to this quarter final. It took a long time to warm up, but this is great fun.
85 min: Benteke’s first contribution is a defensive header that leads to a second corner. Then it’s a third Watford corner in a row, out on the right this time. Cathcart meets this one with a header towards the top left, but he’s denied on the line by Milivojevic.
84 min: Palace make an attacking change of their own, removing McArthur for Benteke. Then Deeney takes a smash from the edge of the Palace box. It’s heading into the bottom left. Guaita parries but the ball breaks to Deulofeu, who ... is denied by a stunning last-ditch lunge from Wan-Bissaka! What a tackle! One that keeps Palace in the game, though they’ll have to defend a corner now.
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82 min: Milivojevic batters the free kick in the wall. Watford half clear. Milivojevic smacks it into the wall again. Watford completely clear. Very poor.
81 min: Palace have ten minutes or so to save their FA Cup dream. They come back at Watford, Milivojevic jinking down the inside left. Doucoure hangs out a leg and the Palace captain goes over it. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the D.
SUPERSUB! Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace (Gray 79)
Pereyra bursts down the middle then drifts wide left. He wedges a delicious ball into the area, where Gray - who has been on the pitch for two minutes and one second - swings a first-time shot into the bottom left! Guaita had no chance! That’s a lovely goal.
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78 min: Some nice interplay between Deulofeu, Gray and Deeney, clipping passes down the middle, then sending Doucoure free down the left. But his cross floats harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.
77 min: Watford make an attacking substitution, removing Hughes from the midfield and sending on Gray up front.
76 min: A brief pause as Milivojevic recovers from an accidental elbow in the ribs from Duelofeu. A lot of grimacing but looks like he’ll be fine to continue.
74 min: From the ridiculous to the sublime by Masina, whose excellent deep cross from the left is flapped at by Guaita. The ball drops to Pereyra on the right. Pereyra shoots, Guaita recovering to block well. Doucoure slices the rebound over the bar.
73 min: Some genuinely pathetic defending by Masina, who does absolutely nothing as Batshuayi latches onto a ball he should have cleared, then wanders past him as though he’s not there. Batshuayi crosses low from the right. Meyer should do better with his snapshot from the edge of the six-yard box, but fluffs his chance.
71 min: Palace hog the ball, but it’s all sterile stuff in the middle of the park. The wind’s not helping the spectacle, to be fair.
69 min: This is all very scrappy now. In a game of few chances, extra time already looks a distinct possibility.
67 min: Deulofeu sashays in from the left and attempts a whip into the top right. It’s straight at Guaita, who gathers.
66 min: The Hornets have been stung into action. They’ve been travelling at half-speed since the restart. Deeney leads a counter charge, and instigates a game of frantic pinball in the Palace final third. Nothing comes of it, but that’s better from the home side.
64 min: Just like Watford in the first half, Palace earn their reward after applying a few minutes of pressure. The away fans are giving it plenty. They like it, like it, like it.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace (Batshuayi 62)
Mariappa, out on the Watford right, dozes over a clearance. He’s charged down by Batshuayi, who tears down the Palace left, cuts into the area, and whips a shot across Gomes and into the bottom right! A lovely finish ... but what sloppy defending by Mariappa. Maybe he should take up eating meat again.
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60 min: Schlupp curls a long pass down the left for Batshuayi, who welts a first-time shot, ball dropping over the shoulder wide left. It ends up looking more spectacular than it was, twanging off the stanchion behind the goal and back upfield.
59 min: The corner’s a non-event. This is not a high-quality game. At least it’s delicately poised, huh.
58 min: Townsend curls it towards the top right. It’s straight at Gomes, who opts to tip the ball over the bar instead of catching, a fair enough decision in this wind.
57 min: The free kick is a nonsense. But Palace come again, and Meyer’s fouled again, jinking down the right and brought down by Masina, who is booked. Another free kick, just to the right of the Watford box.
56 min: Palace continue to probe. Deeney gets fed up and clanks into Meyer, presenting Palace with a free kick out on the left.
54 min: A period of Palace possession in the opposition half. But they can’t prise the hosts open. Watford hold their shape well.
52 min: Deulofeu is out on the right touchline. He crosses from deep. It’s wild in the wind, which is a shame for Watford as Deeney is in space in the centre.
51 min: Palace have looked much livelier since the restart. Presumably on the end of a half-time Roy rocket. Wan-Bissaka is seeing plenty of the ball out on the right.
49 min: Palace win a corner out on the right. Townsend curls it into a packed box. Meyer stoops and guides a header towards the bottom left. Gomes tips it away from danger, although he makes a meal of getting across, Watford hearts in mouths. A boost for Palace, who haven’t created much.
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48 min: Deulofeu dribbles down the inside-left channel and very nearly breaks free into the box. But he’s gently shepherded wide left, so he can’t get a shot away. He chips a cross into the mixer, but it’s dealt with easily enough by Palace.
47 min: Milivojevic wedges a pass down the right for Kouyate, but the wind takes it out for a goal kick.
Palace - who were sent out early by a livid Roy Hodgson - get the second half underway. Watford have been forced to make a change, with Holebas unable to continue. Masina comes on in his place.
Half-time reading. Some old-school FA Cup action, brought to you by the peerless Rob Smyth.
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HALF TIME: Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace
And it ensures the hosts go into the half-time break leading. Deservedly so. They’re 45 minutes away from an FA Cup semi-final. Palace need to up their game.
45 min +1: Meyer threatens to burst clear down the right, but Deulofeu comes across to shepherd him out of play. That’s fine tracking back by the Watford playmaker.
45 min: Break soon! But first, two additional minutes.
44 min: Townsend needlessly clips the ankle of Hughes, as the Watford man dribbles down a cul-de-sac on the right. A free kick, which Holebas curls into a packed six-yard box. The ball dinks off Schlupp’s knee - Watford claim hands - and McArthur clears.
42 min: Holebas is back on, but he’s running gingerly, still limping, unable to put too much weight on his right ankle. The space left by the ailing Watford left-back allows Wan-Bissaka to chip a ball down the right for Meyer, who lifts a weak shot into the arms of Gomes from a tight angle.
40 min: Townsend and Holebas slide in to contest a loose ball down the right. There doesn’t seem much in it, but Holebas stays down in some distress, holding his ankle. The physio comes on and treats the injured soldier.
38 min: Deeney barges his way down the left and purchases a cheap foul from McArthur, who shoves him in the back. A free kick, 25 yards out to the left. Deulofeu takes, getting the ball over the wall and back down towards the bottom left. It’s a fine effort, but one that’s snaffled by Guaita. Great hands to make that stick in windy weather.
36 min: The Palace captain Milivojevic comes sliding through the back of Hughes. It’s a pointless challenge, and also a poor one, and he deservedly ends up in the referee’s notebook.
35 min: Milivojevic sprays a wonderful ball wide right for Wan-Bissaka, who curls a fine cross towards Batshuayi. Mariappa is forced to concede a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, but that’s much better from Palace. Wan-Bissaka and Townsend look dangerous on the flanks; Palace just need to get the ball out to them.
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33 min: It’s gone scrappy again, but Palace will take that. They’ve been penned back for quite a bit, so a messy period in the middle of the park is fine by them, as they look to regroup.
31 min: Doucoure continues to moan about the goal-kick decision. The referee’s patience is beginning to run thin, but another lecture suffices for now.
30 min: This corner from the right hangs in the swirling wind and comes off Capoue at the far post. Goal kick. Watford seem incensed about the non-award of another corner, for some reason. The referee tells them to pipe down.
29 min: Watford deserved that goal, after really ratcheting up the pressure on Palace with a series of corners. And here they come again, Deulofeu skittering down the inside-right channel and hammering a shot towards the top right. It’s flying in, so Guaita does very well to stick up an arm and divert it away for a corner.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace (Capoue 27)
That corner goes long as well, and from it, Cathcart wins yet another corner on the right. Holebas sends it into the mixer. Guaita comes out and flaps. The ball breaks to Cathcart, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. He taps it instinctively into the middle for Capoue, who roofs one from close range!
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26 min: Holebas sends the corner long. Guaita, who likes an adventure, races off his line and chases a ball he’s never likely to claim. Instead, under very little pressure, he fingertips it out for a corner on the left.
25 min: The second corner ends up at the feet of Hughes on the right wing, too. Hughes can’t quite get a cross away time. But Watford are beginning to show up front, and they come again, Deulofeu flicking a pass down the inside-right channel and releasing Deeney, who wins a corner on the right this time.
23 min: After such a long wait, disappointment is an inevitability. Holebas’s delivery isn’t any cop, and sails away to the other flank. But Hughes doesn’t give it up, and whips in a ball that Tomkins is forced to head behind for another corner out on the left.
22 min: Some scruffy but determined work by Pereyra earns Watford a corner out on the left. It’ll be taken at some point, presumably, but for now the referee is talking to everyone in the box, reminding them that VAR will be looking for every little shove and tug.
20 min: Gomes launches it long immediately. Guaita is wandering miles from his box, and shanks a panicked clearance to the Watford left, where Pereyra is gifted possession. Pereyra crosses, hoping to find either Deulofeu or Deeney, but it’s no good. Not a classic yet, this.
19 min: Schlupp is tugged lightly by Hughes, as he makes his way down the left. A fairly generous free kick is awarded. A chance for Palace to line up on the edge of the area. Milivojevic takes. It’s a poor floater, and Gomes claims easily.
17 min: Palace have been the sharper side in attack, but it’s Watford who force the first serious save of the afternoon. Deulofeu dances down the inside-right channel and into the box. It’s a fantastic run, and he’s worked enough space for a shot. But he’s faced with a tight angle and, though Deulofeu creams his shot well enough, Guaita is always going to parry at his near post. Good football all round.
16 min: A brief interlude as the referee and pitchfork-wielding mascot Harry the Hornet burst a few loose balloons that are irritating the hell out of the players.
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14 min: Space for Wan-Bissaka down the right. He clips a cross into the middle for Batshuayi. Too high, and it sails away to the other flank. A shame for Palace, because Batshuayi had escaped the attention of Cathcart and Mariappa, and would have had a free header from six yards.
13 min: A free kick for Watford in the middle of the Palace half. Holebas floats it into the mixer. As the ball sails out for a goal kick, Hughes tumbles over, and demands a penalty, but neither referee nor VAR operative is interested.
11 min: Palace probe awhile. It’s patient possession football. Suddenly Milivojevic slips a pass down the middle for McArthur, who nearly turns free on the edge of the box. Not quite, but that was a promising attack. Palace look confident.
9 min: Deeney spanks long for Deulofeu, but the ball bounces harmlessly through to Guaita, who hammers clear. Watford aren’t showing much up front, though of course it’s early days.
8 min: Schlupp blooters high and long. The ball hangs in the wind. Cathcart does well to compose himself under pressure from Batshuayi, controlling and clearing his lines. Palace are much the brighter team in these opening moments.
6 min: Meyer and Townsend both look in the mood. They combine again, the latter pushing Watford back on the left. He cuts back to Milivojevic, who doesn’t quite catch his shot from the left of the D. Gomes gathers, the ball dribbling towards the bottom left, though not in particularly clean fashion, fumbling then claiming the loose ball.
5 min: Meyer bustles down the inside-left channel and slips a pass forward to Townsend, whose dribbling again causes Watford a little concern. Mariappa does very well to come across and blot out the attack.
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4 min: A fine burst down the left by Pereyra. For a second it looks as though he’ll break clear into the box, but Tomkins sticks to his side and shepherds him away from danger. Then Townsend counters down the Palace left, but he’s only got Batshuayi up in support, and can’t find him with his cross. A couple of neat runs there, though.
2 min: A fair bit of wind around. Both teams struggling to get their foot on the ball in the early exchanges. Plenty of time left for this to turn into a classic for the ages.
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And we’re off! The hosts get the quarter-final underway. VAR is in operation today, for the first time at Vicarage Road. And this tie will be decided today, after extra time (with a fourth sub available) and penalties if necessary. It’s on!
Here come the teams! Watford, the 1984 finalists, are dressed in their yellow and black stripes. Palace, finalists in 1990 and 2016, wear second-choice white with Team of the Eighties retro sash. A rare old noise being made at Vicarage Road! We’ll be off in a minute.
BT Sport chat to Roy Hodgson, and he fills up plenty of airtime with some metaphorical musing. “When you get this far in the competition, you see the Wembley towers in front of you and you dream of getting there. So you know how important it is to give a good performance on the day. It’s never easy going away from home, to a Premier League club, but we’ve got this opportunity and I hope the players will do their level best. It would be wonderful if we could reach the semi-final. I’ve never reached the semi-final in England, I’ve been lucky enough to do it once or twice in foreign countries, but the quarter-final is the first time I’ve got so far in the FA Cup, so it’s an opportunity for the players to elevate me to a new milestone in my career! It would be very nice if they do! I don’t know why our away form is so good, it’s quite strange. Our level of performance hasn’t varied enormously. I think we’re being shown quite a lot of respect at home these days. We don’t have a vastly different approach. Wilf Zaha has a tight hamstring, we’ve been nursing it all week, unfortunately he didn’t come through so we didn’t want to risk him.”
Pre-match pint and pie / vegan sausage roll.
After the free-jazz selection stylings of the Etihad, Watford make eight changes, reverting to old ways. Heurelho Gomes, Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra, Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney return; they take the places of Ben Foster, Darryl Janmaat, Miguel Britos, Adam Masina, Christian Kabasele, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success and Andre Gray.
Palace are relatively unchanged by comparison. Just the three switches from the starting XI for the Brighton game. Martin Kelly, Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer come in for Patrick van Aanholt, Scott Dann and Wilfried Zaha.
The teams
Watford: Gomes, Kiko, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney.
Subs: Dahlberg, Kabasele, Janmaat, Masina, Cleverley, Success, Gray.
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Kelly, Tomkins, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Meyer, McArthur, Townsend, Batshuayi.
Subs: Hennessey, Ward, Woods, Riedewald, Wickham, Benteke, Ayew.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
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Preamble
The Eagles have broken Hornet hearts a couple of times recently. Crystal Palace pipped Watford to promotion in the 2013 Championship play-off, Kevin Phillips doing the business from the spot in extra time; then they won again at Wembley in the 2016 FA Cup semis, Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham the goalscoring heroes in a 2-1 victory. A couple of crunch victories there. Can Palace make it three in a row?
Perhaps, though the omens are otherwise good for Watford. The Hornets have won their last three FA Cup quarter-finals, in 2003, 2007 and 2016. They’ve not been defeated at Vicarage Road in the cup since Spurs won there in 2012, a run of five successive victories. They’ve never lost at home to Palace in the cup. And Javi Gracia’s side have already beaten Roy Hodgson’s men twice in the league this season, 2-1 on both occasions.
Both teams come to this match on the back of a loss, Watford at Manchester City, Palace in the M23 derby with Brighton. But on the whole their form is decent. Watford have won four of their last six, their only two defeats coming at title scrappers City and Liverpool. Palace meanwhile have won their last three away games comfortably, at Doncaster, Leicester and Burnley. So everyone has plenty of hope in their heart, one step away from Wembley and the last four. It’s on!
Kick off: 12.15pm GMT.
