Ex-Chelsea hero admits goalie gaffes helped Palace’s demise against Watford

By James Cunliffe at Selhurst Park Monday, August 20, 2012
7:00 AM

Gianfranco Zola’s side were aided by two errors from Eagles stopper Julian Speroni

New Watford manager Gianfranco Zola conceded that his team benefitted from two goalkeeping blunders from Julian Speroni as they came from behind with a late double to beat Crystal Palace 3-2.

Eagles midfielder Owen Garvan put the hosts in front with a penalty and a neat finish after the Hornets defence stood off him, but his keeper offered up a gift to Martin Taylor before misjudging Almen Abdi’s 88th minute strike.

Matej Vydra’s classy strike deep into injury time stunned Palace but the former Chelsea hero and West Ham boss said: “I believe the second goal looked like it was a mistake from the goalkeeper. I don’t think the third one was.

“The first one was maybe a mistake from the goalkeeper but I don’t like talking about the other players.

“The first two goals that they scored were cheap as well and we were a little too slow.”

Zola, who took over the Vicarage hotseat, this summer when the club was bought by the owners of Serie A’s Udinese – the Pozzo family – believed that, on the balance of play, a point apiece would have been a fair outcome.

“Probably a draw might have been a good result,” Zola said, adding: “In the first half they were 2-1 up and I believe we were slightly better than them.

“In my opinion, in the second half we didn’t play as well as the first but we got the goals that made the difference.

“Palace played a good game and made it difficult for us. The difference was that great goal today.”