Crystal Palace – Watford

They're calling it the £120 million game. Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway says it's "the biggest match in the world". No prizes for guessing what it is - here comes the <a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1461084/palace-watford-ready-L120m-match?cc=5739" target="_blank">Championship play-off final</a>, the route to the last place in the Premier League and its oceans of cash.

It's between Holloway's Eagles and Gianfranco Zola's Watford, who battle it out at Wembley. Just days after the excellent Champions League final, this has the potential to be another compelling match between two teams who like to attack.

The line-ups are out, and they go like this. Watford first: <b>Almunia; Doyley, Ekstrand, Cassetti; Anya, Chalobah, Hogg, Abdi, Pudil; Deeney, Vydra.</b>

And now Palace: <b>Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Garvan, Williams, Zaha, Wilbraham.</b>

Kick-off is 45 minutes away, the Wembley weather is warm and sunny, and the atmosphere is building nicely. Stay with us for full coverage of all the action.

It would be too much to expect the insanity of the finish that saw the Hornets to Wembley - a double save from a Leicester penalty, followed by a swift break and a Troy Deeney volley at Vicarage Road. All this in the last seconds of injury-time. Such things couldn't happen again. Could they?

Palace had appeared second favourites when the home leg of their semi-final against Brighton ended goalless, but they then produced a superb performance to win at the Amex. Despite a dodgy end to the league season, that will have filled them with new confidence.

There have been 38 goals in the last ten competitive matches between these two teams, and a Palace win would see them in the Premier League for the fifth time. They have never stayed more than a season, however.

Palace chairman Steve Parrish is under no illusions as to what the day means. He has told BBC Radio Five Live: "There is so much at stake at the game. Watford will be thinking the same - it could transform their club. There is so much at stake. I have done everything I can this week. In the end, it is up to the guys. We have to enjoy the day, as three years ago we were close to being relegated. These occasions come round every ten years - if you are lucky."

Palace's veteran striker Kevin Phillips has lost play-off finals with lost with Sunderland, West Brom and Blackpool. Can he be lucky this time?

But no team has scored more Championship goals than Watford. Their boss, Gianfranco Zola, is out on the Wembley pitch. He's soaking up the sunshine, and the atmosphere.

History, on the face of it, is on their side - five of the last seven Championship play-off finals have been won by the side that finished third in the table.

Holloway says he thinks this should be "an excellent game". Zola wants his players to "enjoy the moment".

And that moment is now ten minutes away - the final place in next season's top flight is looming for someone.

And here come the players, to a thunderous reception. As it was for the Champions League final on Saturday, Wembley is wash with red and yellow.

And now it's time for the national anthem. The teams are lined up alongside each other as the music rings out.

Palace are unchanged, and must again do without top scorer Glenn Murray. Aaron Wilbraham again deputises, and - whatever the result - this is Wilfried Zaha's final game for them. He joins Manchester United in the summer.

Martin Atkinson is the referee. We are seconds away from kick-off now.

<b>And here we go - Watford kick off, and the Championship play-off final is up and running.</b>

They have the ball at the back, and knock it around their three-man defence. Vydra is on the ball, but then Chalobah's effort to spread the play to the right is overhit.

Palace boom the ball forward from the throw. Watford return the compliment and Deeney jumps. Wing-back Daniel Pudil gets forward, but palace crowd him out.

Lively stuff so far at Wembley - very early signs of a game that will have plenty of pace about it.

Wilbraham chases for Palace, but Watford get it away and then Pudil miscontrols.

One or two players, including Palace 'keeper Speroni, are bursting some of the many red and blue balloons that have drifted into his penalty area from the Selhurst contingent.

As play goes on, Deeney is barged over on halfway - Watford have the free-kick.

Cassetti meanders forward for the Hornets, but the ball forward is an aimless one.

Delaney plays the ball long towards Wilbraham, who wins a throw in attacking position. Zaha tries to make something of it, but the ball goes behind for a Watford goal-kick.

No nonsense there from Eagles skipper Jedinak - he thunders a clearance downfield as Watford try to build.

Some neat passing from Watford, but it's ll very central. As they did at Brighton, Palace are content to keep things tight and try to hit their opponents on the break.

Williams and Wilbraham link well. The latter shoots from the edge of the box, Cassetti blocks and Zaha just runs the ball out as he tries to get a cross in.

Palace's best, and most coherent, moment of the match - they follow it up by winning a free-kick as Pudil infringes. Garvan will swing this in from halfway inside the Watford half.

It's not the greatest of set-pieces, though, and Almunia claims without difficulty.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ekstrand lunges in on Wilbraham and gets he first yellow of the day. No doubts about that decision.

Watford tidy up as Palace try to build down their right. The Hornets have had the bulk of possession, but they have yet to create anything.

Zaha storms away from Cassetti and then Pudil, but scuffs his attempted pass. The Watford duo couldn't do a thing about him then.

Watford win a corner: Doyley finds Abdi, and Jedinak slides in to put the ball behind.

Palace deal with it well, though, and eventually win a throw deep inside their own half.

Palace on the prowl, moving the ball from right to left. Williams is beaten by Abdi, though, and Watford will try to build something of their own.

Dikgacoi is down for Palace after a knock, and is getting a spot of treatment.

Dikgacoi, it seems, will be unable to continue. He is hobbling off the pitch, and this is a bad blow for Crystal Palace.

Stuart O'Keefe seems the man most likely to take his place in midfield.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Indeed he is: O'Keefe on and Dikgacoi off in an early, and forced change for Holloway and Palace.

Ward wins a throw for them with an attempted cross from the right, but the ball back in is all wrong and drifts away for a goal-kick.

Free-kick to Watford, halfway inside Palace territory, as Jedinak and Deeney clash. Can they work something from this?

No, they can't - Delaney produces a strong header clear.

Brilliant by Zaha - he steams down the right and cuts it back to Garvan. Doyley blocks. Palace look the more threatening in a game of very few chances.

Very few chances so far, that is...

A lovely ball down the right finds Wilbraham, who has the space to deliver a far better cross than the one he eventually manages. Watford clear.

Sub O'Keefe gets another one in, and again it's repelled. But Palace are the team working the space and the angles. Watford's passing game hasn't got going, and their attacking talents are anonymous.

Williamson finds space and then finds Zaha, whose cross cannons away off a Watford man.

Neat and tidy passing again from Palace as they work the ball out to the left on halfway. It falls to Zaha, and Pudil is there for Watford.

Then, just for a second, it looks as though Palace's main man is away down the right. This time, though, the flag is raised for offside.

Almunia kicks long and again Palace are as defensively sound as can be. They have neutralised the Watford threat supernly so far.

Wilbraham tries to find Garvan with a header down from a long ball forward. Watford get it back and look for Deeney but it's over his head and out for a Palace goal-kick.

Zola looks frustrated, as well he might. His side can't get going at all here - but you have to give a lot of credit for that to Ian Holloway and Palace.

Jedinak thunders into Abdi and sends him crashing to the ground midway inside the Palace half.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> In doing so, he evens up the booking count. The free-kick comes in and Ekstra heads the ball behind for a Watford corner.

Just for a second, 'keeper Speroni is hesitant, but his defensive colleagues come to the rescue.

Anya suddenly steps up the pace with a fine run down the right, but the Eagles clear and Watford can't make anything of the follow-up ball.

Anya on the ball again. Watford are so much better when they keep the ball on the floor. There's some crisp passing, but they can't find the final ball that opens up some space.

Suddenly a chance - the ball falls to Vydra, edge and centre of the area and - just for a second - all on his own. Cue Delaney, who makes the tackle of the match to put the ball out for a corner.

Superb defending from the Palace man. Abdi's corner is also defended very well, and then Anya's follow-up cross is dealt with by Moxey.

Encouraging moments, though, for Watford. Zaha, though, is on the ball for Palace. He finds Jedinak, who gives it away and is relieved to see Vydra unable to make anything of the situation.

Ten minutes remaining until the break. This is very tight: there hasn't been a good chance to speak of.

Palace have a throw on halfway but lose it and Watford work a crossing position on the left. Again, the Palace defence stands firm.

On the follow-up, Chalobah drives one across the area, but nobody in a Watford shirt can get on the end of it.

Edging towards the last five minutes of the first period, and palace are content to knock the ball around at the back for a while.

Forward it comes and Williams makes a run - he goes over on the left corner of the area, but referee Atkinson doesn't want to know.

Palace keep the pressure on, though, and Doyley intervenes to put the ball out for a throw. O'Keefe tries to find Zaha, but his ball towards the left-hand side of the area has too much bend on it and goes behind.

Wilbraham chases another O'Keefe ball, this time down the Palace right, but that goes out for a Watford throw.

Forward comes Hogg and crosses low. Abdi is lurking, and Palace - for the umpteenth time in this half - have defenders in all the right places.

Abdi tries another cross. It's poor, but the ball comes back to him and he wins a corner from that. What can they create from this?

Again, nothing. Palace are providing something of a defensive masterclass, and Watford can't find the inspiration to do anything about it.

Into the final minute of the first half - no goals at Wembley. We'll find out how much injury time there is soon enough...

In the meantime, Palace win a throw. Watford's Vydra, one of the stars of their season, is limping a bit. A worrying sign for Zola.

Three minutes of added time. Williams crashes to the ground and wants a free-kick from Cassetti's challenge. All Palace get, though, is a throw.

Pudil lumps one deep into the Palace half. It's all very un-Zola like from Zola's side, who have been inhibited, possibly by nerves as much as Palace's astute defensive performance.

Wilbraham bundles over Cassetti and runs on. Then he somehow looks surprised to see that Watford have been given a free-kick. Again, Almunia goes long, and again that plays straight into Palace's hands.

<b>And that's half-time - Palace will be the happier with the current pretty stale stalemate. It's 0-0 at Wembley.</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Matek Vydra is off and Alexandre Geijo on for Watford. That injury suffered by Vydra, such a key player for Watford, just before half-time has proven to be one he could not run off. One big injury setback apiece now.

<b>Palace get the second period under way, and Watford soon win a throw inside their own half.</b>

More neat footwork by Williams on halfway keeps the possession for Palace, but when the pass is played forward the Hornets deal with it with a minimum of fuss.

Watford try to get the ball forward, but it runs out for a throw. Zola will be expecting far more from his side in this half, but can they deliver?

Jedinak hoists the firs ball towards Zaha of this half, and Cassetti gets it clear.

Now Jedinak seems to have taken a knock. Meanwhile, Chalobah takes aim for Watford 30 yards out but swerves his effort well wide.

Williams on the ball for Crystal Palace, but they lose possession. Hogg heads back for Abdi on the edge of the area, and Delaney is there again with a good block for the Eagles.

Watford try to float the ball from left to right, but it's not a good pass. Palace have the throw. The Hornets still can't find their rhythm.

Things are very much as they were in the early stages of the second period. Zaha eludes Cassetti and crosses deep from the left - but too deep.

To the other end, where Anya crosses from the right. It's cleared. Jedinak is still struggling a bit. Palace, the way things are looking, could lose both their central midfielders to injury before we've even played an hour.

Cassetti fouls Zaha. Free-kick for palace, and they can play this into the heart of the Watford penalty area...

They do - Wilbraham shoots from angle, but it's blocked. Watford counter, but Palace snap back and have the ball in midfield.

The Hornets handle that, but there are a few more flickering signs of life in this match all of a sudden.

Deeney pops up on the left for Watford. But it doesn't matter where he wanders, Palace keep slamming the door on him.

Garvan plays the ball out wide to Zaha. He's fouled by Cassetti. Yes, again. Another chance for Palace to swing the ball in here...

Wilbraham battles for it, but Almunia is there with a thoroughly solid claim.

Watford substitute Geijo makes a good, direct run before striking an attempt that makes your average backpass look vicious. Good run, though.

Perhaps encouraged by that, Doyley makes the same kind of run. His shot is almost equally poor, and he had options, too.

Pudil is in the area for Watford - he's challenged and blocked. At the other end, Wilbraham breaks and has a shot blocked. End-to-end, all of a sudden.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Abdi is booked - he brings down O'Keefe, who then hits the ball towards him. O'Keefe is booked too.

Palace swing the free-kick in. Watford head clear, Moxey puts it back in and again it's headed away.

Suddenly, though, the match is opening up. Good play by Wilbraham - he holds the ball up midway inside Watford territory and is then bundled over. Delaney heads down from the free-kick, but there's nobody there in a Crystal Palace shirt to take advantage.

A Palace change is in the offing: Kevin Phillips, a Watford player many, many moons ago, is getting ready to come on.

Watford bend a cross in and Speroni catches. He plays it quickly and long towards Wilbraham, who is beaten to it.

Deeney on the left again. It's fed to Geijo inside the area. He produces neat footwork, but Speroni is out smartly.

Great move by Palace - Jedinak feeds Zaha, who squares to O'Keefe. He gets away from his man and blasts in a shot. Almunia saves well - and that's the first proper save of the match.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Jonathan Williams off and poacher supreme Kevin Phillips on. As the corner comes in, Watford make a mess of it and Wilbraham sees his shot blocked by the foot of Almunia.

Another corner, another Watford fiasco. Gabbidon prods the ball back towards the middle and it's desperately scrambled away.

A great spell from Palace, and Watford are rattled. Phillips lurks as another ball comes in, but this time the yellow-clad defenders deal with it a bit more coolly.

Troy Deeney has taken a knock now. He's getting a little treatment. A pause after a breathless few minutes.

The action is back under way. Hogg crosses for Watford. As it's cleared, O'Keefe clatters towards Doyley. Free-kick. Crossing position.

It's cleared, and Zaha is fouled as the Hornets try to win the ball back. Free-kick to Palace, deep inside their own half. From it, they gain a throw in an attacking position.

Twenty minutes of normal time remaining. Everything here at Wembley is still completely in the balance.

Cross from Zaha, header back from Phillips, volley wide from Garvan. A very decent attack from Palace.

Another Watford change is in the offing, with midfielder Christian Battocchio waiting on the sidelines.

Great play from Zaha on the right again. He crosses once more, and Doyley - the long-serving, immensely popular defender - is there to get it away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Nathaniel Chalobah is off and Battocchio on as Watford make that change.

Watford win a throw on halfway as Geijo tries a flick. We are heading towards the final 15 minutes.

Anya blasts clear after a ricochet and Watford move forward. The pass is poor and Zaha can break. Not for long, though - great play from Cassetti snuffs out that threat.

Geijo attempts to dink a little pass through the centre for Deeney, but it's well read by the defenders.

Phillips, playing in a deeper-lying role than is usual, is producing plenty of neat touches. Ward tries to get down the right, but the ball just eludes him.

Zaha again threatens. Pudil gets it away but the cross back in has Almunia sweating and he puts it behind for a Palace corner...

Deeney clears and Battocchio breaks. Ward clears. Can someone find a winner in the final ten minutes?

Palace are on the ball again. Phillips and Jedinak combine. Watford clear, Palace play it forward, Wilbraham tries to get onto a Garvan ball and Doyley defends beautifully.

Wilbraham makes a nuisance of himself and the ball falls for Garvan. He volleys crisply - but straight at Almunia.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ward fouls Pudil as the Watford man tries to counter. It's cynical and bookable, and so that's what he gets.

Watford on the ball. The seconds are ticking away, with extra time looking - as it has, to be fair, for so much of this match - more probable than possible.

Zaha plays a fine ball towards Wilbraham. He swivels and shoots, but it's a bit too close to Almunia. He blocks. The Watford 'keeper has made all the saves this afternoon.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Owen Garvan is replaced by Andre Moritz for Crystal Palace.

Moritz plays in the corner, but it isn't a very good one. Phillips fouls Bettocchio as he tries to pick up the pieces, and that's a Watford free-kick.

Five minutes stand between these two teams and another half an hour. Geijo chases into the Palace area, but Speroni is out to save.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Anya is off and Fernando Forestieri on as Watford boss Zola makes another change.

Wilbraham tussles with Ekstrand on the edge of the Watford area, and that will be a Hornets free-kick.

Forestieri tumbles under a challenge on the edge of the Palace area. That wasn't a foul, and it's not a free-kick. Martin Atkinson quite rightly waves away the appeals.

Geijo has been good since his arrival in this game. More neat control starts a Watford move - but palace force them back. Good pressing from Crystal Palace.

Bettocchio could have shot - probably should have -but instead lets the ball go across him. He crosses and Deeney improvises an overhead that flies over the bar.

Then Deeney turns, but drags his effort tamely wide of the far post. Injury time is a matter of seconds away.

There will be three more minutes... and then it's extra time. Unless, of course...

Zaha pops up on the left. Hogg stands his ground to make a good challenge for Watford.

O'Keefe finds Zaha who surges into the area. But he waits and waits, and Doyley blocks. Corner to Palace, though...

Moritz takes and Jedinak gets a good connection. Almunia clutches, and that - surely - is extra time.

<b>And it is extra time - half an hour more to come and then, perhaps, penalties. Still no goals at Wembley.</b>

Watford will be the team to get the added 30 minutes under way. Can they force a save from Speroni? They haven't yet...

<b>Here we go, then - Watford passing it around before spreading the ball to Forestieri. He has to make do with a throw.</b>

From it, he wins another throw. Zola is looking very pensive on the bench, Holloway a mass of gesticulations.

Palace have a throw and Wilbraham touches it on. But that poses no problems whatsoever for Watford, and Almunia will take the goal-kick.

Deeney gets in after Palace misjudge a Watford cross. Somehow, Speroni gets a touch and prevents what looked a certain opening goal for the Hornets.

A fantastic bit of goalkeeping, and there may need to be more as another ball comes into the area. This time, though, Deeney is offside.

Bettocchio forges a solo route up the right and crosses low. Palace clear. Watford have the throw.

Forestieri lashes a shot from a narrow angle on the right when he had colleagues waiting for a cross. The effort hits the side netting, but was never going to realistically threaten Speroni.

Watford are the side in the ascendancy in these early stages of extra time. Barely anything to be seen of Palace so far.

Forward they come now, though, to win a throw on the right. From it, Ward sees his attempted cross deflected behind for a corner.

It's low towards the near post and cleared. Watford try to thread some passing together and win their own corner - a deep cross, and Gabbidon is the man in defence for the Eagles.

It's cleared to Bettocchio, 30 yards out. He belts one, but it's straight into the midriff of Speroni.

Ward passes back to his 'keeper, whose long ball upfield causes a moment of hesitation. Zaha takes possession and wins his side a throw.

It comes to nothing, as does an effort by Geijo to start a break down the Watford right.

Long downfield from Ward for Palace. Wilbraham flicks, but to nobody in particular.

Delaney and Forestieri clash in the air, and the Palace man is hurt. Both sides, remember, have used their full complement of substitutions.

He's back on his feet, and the game carries on. Moritz crosses and Doyley clears - but here comes Zaha again. Cassetti brings him down, not for the first time, and this is a dangerous free-kick for Palace.

Two minutes remaining in the first half of the extra half-hour. Can Palace make this one tell?

Abdi heads clear, Zaha maintains the pressure and Delaney fires wide from outside the area. That was never going to worry Almunia.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Moxey is booked for a foul on Forestieri earlier in that passage of play. Thirty seconds left of the first 15 extra minutes.

<b>PENALTY TO PALACE - Zaha takes on Cassetti on the left of the area. He challenges, doesn't get the ball, does get the man, and Palace have a wonderful chance to take the lead here.</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: Phillips blasts it into the top corner - a brilliant penalty from the ex-Watford man, and Palace are within touching distance of the top flight!</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Before the kick was taken, Cassetti was booked for his foul. It was his umpteenth on Zaha, and it may well provide the decisive moment of this huge afternoon.

<b>Extra time is halfway through. Watford have a quarter of an hour to find a goal in which to save themselves and deny Ian Holloway and palace promotion.</b>

Palace have been the better side in this game. They have created almost all the good chances, and they deserve to be ahead. But can they hold this precious, precious lead?

<b>The second period begins. The ball is back with Almunia, who bowls it out and tries to get things going. No nonsense from Palace, who blast it straight back where it came from.</b>

Watford inside Palace territory. But Zaha gets the ball and floats a wonderful pass towards Phillips, who is just crowded out. Wilbraham is now in pain for Palace, and Zaha is walking gingerly. Remember, no more substitutes remain.

Zaha's OK. Ekstrand was the man who had tangled with Wilbraham, but the Crystal Palace striker is back on his feet as well.

Although Watford need the goal, Palace are attacking more. They know another goal would seal their Premier League place.

Ward tries a cross from the right, but it's far, far too long.

Hogg gets onto a ball down the right and wins a corner for Watford. They have to make something happen soon. Speroni claims well as the ball threatens to run loose.

Zola knows less than ten minutes stand between his side and a painful defeat. Bettocchio tries to get away towards the right but Delaney - who has had a really fine afternoon - is there to clear.

Deeney flicks on from a long Watford ball forward, but it's straight through to Speroni.

The Hornets are on halfway. They have rarely found an incisive ball, but Deeney makes a run and is brought down 30 yards out and central. Chance for Watford - Moritz the man adjudged to have fouled.

A committee of Hornets around the ball. The referee making sure the Palace wall is the required distance back.

Abdi floats it, but Speroni is behind it all the way and saves without difficulty.

Zaha on the left for Crystal Palace now. The south Londoners are keeping the ball well. Wilbraham and Ward combine on the right, but Watford eventually win the throw.

They try to build through Battocchio, but Gabbidon slams the door.

Less than five minutes between Crystal Palace and a return to the top flight now. They play the ball forward and it's a Watford throw. The Hornets are deep inside their own half. That's exactly where Palace want to see them.

Throw to Watford, this time inside the Palace half. Cassetti crosses and Palace thump it away. A long way away.

Ekstrand shoots, and it's bravely blocked. Abdi makes a total mess of the follow-up, floating it high and very wide.

Another long ball for Watford. There is a minute of the extra 30 left, and then whatever the referee sees fit to add.

Seconds to go. Geijo heads a ball on. Forestieri makes room and curls a shot in...

<b>OFF THE LINE BY PALACE - Ward is in the right place to head clear for the Eagles.</b>

Palace thump it long, deep into Watford territory. Back it comes. Out it goes, all the way back to Almunia. We are in added time of extra time. Deeney gets a flick and it's inches past the post off Gabbidon.

Gabbidon heads the corner away. Almunia is up. Palace head clear...

<b>AND CRYSTAL PALACE ARE BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!</b>

<b>The final whistle goes on a 1-0 win for the Londoners, and it is a deserved win. Palace players are delirious. Kevin Phillips, with a penalty right on half time of extra time, made the difference. Watford never really got going. Their players are lying on the pitch, desolate. Zola is trying to offer words of comfort</b>.

<b>"Speechless. Exhausted and speechless.This is all I wanted, to leave Palace knowing they were in the Premier League," says Wilfried Zaha. Few could have done more than him to make that happen.</b>

<b>"I felt confident, and I wanted to take it. Delighted to see it fly in the top corner - and if that is my last game, what a way to sign off," says veteran striker and penalty hero Phillips. It's all over at Wembley in the Championship play-off final - Crystal Palace have beaten Watford by a goal to nil.</b>