Crystal Palace v Watford The FA Cup

Hello and welcome to Wembley for the weekend's second FA Cup semifinal as

Crystal Palace take on Watford for the right to face Manchester United

in next month's final. It's been 26 years since Crystal Palace last made

it to the final of the FA Cup, that famous replay defeat to Manchester

United back in 1990. For Watford you have to go even further back for the

last time they made it all the way: 1984. Also in defeat, to Everton.

Neither of these clubs have lifted the famous FA Cup trophy. Who will

be back here on May 21 for a chance to make some history?

COMMENTATOR: Memories of a tight and tense championship play-off final

three years ago will come to mind for many in the stadium today. It

took Kevin Phillips penalty to separate them and send Palace on to

the Premier League. Today's encounter could be just as close.

Both have slumped in the league since Christmas. Both won against

the other in this seasons to Premier League encounters. Restore Palace in

their first semifinal for 20 years. Connor Wickham is preferred to a

manual and a bio upfront, and Jason Puncheon plays instead of Joe

Ledley, who joins Adebayor among the substitutes. It is Watford's first

semifinal since 2007. Three changes to the side that saw off Arsenal.

Costel Pantilimon keeps his place in goal. Britos comes in at the back.

Abdi plays out wide. Guedioura drops to the bench.

And the second of the FA Cup semifinals is underway.

And the second of the FA Cup Palace in the stripes kicking from

right-to-left in the first half. The ball thumped away by Wayne

Hennessey. First chance to hear from Martin Keown alongside me. I don't

know about you but I think this is a very difficult game to call. Yes,

certainly is. You'd like to think Crystal Palace, with Bolasie up top

will take the fight. But don't forget about Ighalo and Deeney, two

very good forwards. He was centre stage the only other time Crystal

Palace made it to the cup final. Great distance on that kick from

Hennessy, Crystal Palace players swarming forward. The height of

Pantilimon coming in handy. You saw the pace of Bolasie. Pantilimon is a

giant of a man. Quique Sanchez Flores, I think he's done a very

good job in his first season in the English game. Watford will be

staying up with plenty of room to spare in their first season back in

the elite of English football. Britos tries to stick with Bolasie,

concedes a corner. Bolasie very much the central player now. I think he

has that ability to do that, tests you with his pace. This time Britos

just does enough. The ball flicked on towards the far post and it's in!

Crystal Palace with the early lead! Yannick Bolasie. And we've only been

playing for five minutes. Well, Bolasie was left upset and

frustrated the last time Crystal Palace got to Wembley. He was an

unused substitute. He sat on the bench. He's in the starting XI this

time and he's made his mark early on this semifinal. Just an

old-fashioned flick at the near post. Until on just can't get

across. -- Pantilimon just can't get across. Excellent start from Alan

Pardew's team, he's loving that. Perfect start for Crystal Palace and

Yannick Bolasie, Perfect start for Crystal Palace and

sixth goal of the season. Perfect start for Crystal Palace and

draw, and added a big goal here at Wembley. Nyom with time to look up

and picked the cross, it's not Wembley. Nyom with time to look up

one. And that could so easily have gone in off the shins of Ward. I

think he is complaining Scott Dann lets that go at the last minute.

Great ball in. And look at Scott Dann leave it. In the end it just

goes past the post. All the noise predictably

goes past the post. All the noise will be loving all the open space on

this nearside. Collision between a BOOING

And Bolasie, and Capoue macro has stayed on the front. Think it was a

coming together between them. Just an accident but I think he hit his

knee. Doesn't look good when a an accident but I think he hit his

player is holding his knee like that. Those innocuous

player is holding his knee like a problem. They have just run into

each other and he has rocked that left me.

each other and he has rocked that freely at the moment but hopefully

running off the problem that caused him so much pain just a couple of

moments ago. Still just the him so much pain just a couple of

in this match at Wembley has the ball is played forward by Capoue. A

little wayward. Dann leaving ball is played forward by Capoue. A

Jedinak. And Souare. That's Souare, and he's down again, Capoue, and it

might be curtains for him. Yeah, it's unfortunate. Wondered if it was

something he could run off. it's unfortunate. Wondered if it was

setback in this first half for it's unfortunate. Wondered if it was

Hornets. Conceding an early goal, and

Hornets. Conceding an early goal, from the engine room of their

midfield. A distraught Etienne from the engine room of their

Capoue leaves the arena. That's a sad finish. Dreaming of playing in

the final of the FA Cup and instead sad finish. Dreaming of playing in

he goes off on a stretcher. Just about ready for the start of the

second half, Martin. I wonder what you feel Quique Sanchez Flores will

have been saying to his players at half-time. He will surely be looking

for more from them? He will, but there will be no panic. I'd like to

see the ball played directly to their strikers. Deeney and Ighalo

will want more direct service. Connor Wickham taking it on. Down he

goes inside the penalty area. The referee has a look and allows it to

continue. A worrying moment for the Watford defence in the opening

seconds of the second half. Here it is again, Martin. Ooh, well, seems

to get the wrong side. Britos puts his foot out, he goes over its. He

has legged him over. He's very lucky to get away with that. Alan Pardew

has every right to be annoyed. Suarez feeding through, Britos dives

in and doesn't get there. And Bolasie is carrying the threat for

Crystal Palace. Once again goes the goal, and Pantilimon makes the save.

Look how he skips over the first challenge. Sublime, the way he runs

at people. He gets this off with his left foot. Incredible save, as he

fires up in the air, watch how it goes off his feet. Until a

Pantilimon just about managed to close his legs in time. There is the

owner of Watford. Made plenty of changes last summer, worked out

well. Is he planning to make more come the end of the season? Cabaye,

Zaha. Ward is well forward on this nearside as well. Connor Wickham has

come out wide. It feels like this nearside as well. Connor Wickham has

game is coming to the boil nicely. Much more competitive. Deeney for

Watford. He waits for Abdi to support him. Finds his strike

partner, Ighalo, who goes down under the challenge of Scott Dann. It's

going to be a yellow card. Further Crystal Palace defender. It's

Ighalo, first time he's really got Dann in one against one situation.

He's got too much for him. Stands him up. Just gets taken out. Ben

Watson came off the bench in the FA Cup final for Wigan against

Manchester City and made all the difference, scoring the only goal of

the game. Think Watson is sizing this one up. Abdi with a little

lay-off. Watson strikes. The deflection carrying it behind for a

Watford striker. Just screws it into the wall, gets lucky, gets a corner

for his team. The corner from Gerard Oda, and it's the equalising goal!

And who else, but the Talisman, Troy Deeney? And it's game on, now -- the

corner from Jurado. At last those Watford fans have something to shout

about. They'd hardly threatened in the game, but Deeney was given a

chance, and he's it. Well, cometh the hour, cometh the man, and it's

Deeney again. Gets away from his marker. To get a head on the ball,

there... Ridiculous. Just got it on a plate. Once he's got a touch, the

keeper had no chance. Scott Dann was right with him, but Deeney able to

get to the ball first. Deeney's delight. Quique Sanchez Flores much

more animated on the touchline, now. They are really in this match. They

weren't in the game for the first half. Half an hour to go, big half

an hour. Can somebody find a winning goal or will we go to extra time?

Remember three years ago in the championship play-off final, it did

take extra time. Bolasie again now, again up against Britos. And Britos

just has to get it right in that situation. Did well, there. He's

going to need plenty of pace. Plenty more where that came from.

Ball into Connor Wickham! Agonisingly out of reach for Costel

Pantilimon, and Connor Wickham restores Crystal Palace's lead.

Picked for the big game, he repays the face that Alan Pardew has shown

in him. -- repays the faith. It is Connor Wickham's fifth goal of the

season, and the biggest by far. Palace ahead for the second time

this afternoon. It's a great ball that gets whipped in, Souare. That's

why he's in the team, he repays the manager. Hence it back from the

direction it comes in. Too much for Ake. Look at the power he has,

there. Great trajectory, he gets off the ground brilliantly. Well,

Watford were level for around six minutes before Crystal Palace

restored their lead. Noses in front once more. And all that hard work

undone in an instant. Well, satisfying for Alan Pardew. That's

what he's picked him for. We are quite close to the Palace fans and

you feel the stadium jumping. The stadium is physically moving now. It

is. Nyom with time to look up and send it into the box but Scott Dann

gets there first. He has conceded a corner kick. Trying to be too

clever, there, trying to head that act of the keeper, instead gives a

corner away -- head that back to the keeper. The raw goes up from the

Watford fans behind the goal as they look to draw level for the second

time. Easy header away for James McArthur. Zaha let it drop, Nyom

goes across with him. Zaha has kept the ball in play, here, and he is

really stretching his legs and stretching the Watford defence and

almost going all the way. stretching the Watford defence and

Wickham sees his effort blocked. Still going. And then Pantilimon

with all the time in the world to make the save. Nyom stuck to his

task. Great run from Zaha. Given away. Adebayor presented with

the ball on a plate. Ake trying to get back goal side. Well, he is as

much of a live wire in the final five minutes of the game as he was

in the front, Zaha. Got to give him credit, Adebayor put it on a plate

for him. Doesn't have the precision, puts it into the side netting.

Ighalo. Jurado with the ball in. Delaney stretching. Guedioura with

the strike, and it's just wide. Agonising for the players. Agonising

for the fans. Good play again. They are going after Palace, attacking

them. Great ball into the box. Great defending from Delaney, and he just

screws it wide. Gerard Oda has got to connect better with that.

I was about to say that the party will start shortly, but I think it

has already among the Crystal Palace supporters, trying to cheer their

team over the line. This supporters, trying to cheer their

Forward by Cathcart. supporters, trying to cheer their

Deeney. The for Watson. Cleared away by Ward.

Craig Pawson have a look at his for Watson. Cleared away by Ward.

watch, and Palace are almost over the line. Can't get rid of

watch, and Palace are almost over before Cabaye makes the challenge.

Watford with the throw. Added time is all but up here now. There goes

the final whistle. And, for the second time in their history,

Crystal Palace are through to the FA Cup final, and it will be a repeat

of the 1990 final. They will face Manchester United. Connor Wickham's

header in the second half ultimately proving decisive. Yannick Bolasie

having given Crystal Palace the early lead. Quique Sanchez Flores's

team coming back into the game with a header from Troy Deeney in the

second half, but they were not level for long. Connor Wickham made sure

of that. And Crystal Palace on the day were the winners of their

of that. And Crystal Palace on the FA Cup semifinal. The final

of that. And Crystal Palace on the Crystal Palace 2, Watford 1.

Just listen to the noise around this stadium. You are around

Just listen to the noise around this in the FA Cup final. Talk me through

Just listen to the noise around this and not make it. That was the plan,

that we had to give it all that we could and get the final, and we

managed it, so are happy. I thought the roof was going to come off the

stadium when you opened the scoring. A

stadium when you opened the scoring. I didn't get a chance to play at

Wembley in the play-offs cup final. I'm delighted for myself and the

team. For yourself, personally, a tough season injury wise. Did you

feel you had to repay your manager for the faith he showed in you? I

think I had it for the boys. The first goal we conceded was my fault.

When the boy came in -- when the ball came in, I knew I was going to

win the header. Congratulations on getting through again. A special

date for Crystal Palace. It is. Our new owner is here today. And of

course all of our fans have been magnificent. We have let them down a

bit of home games this year but today our strongest 11 was available

and it showed, and it's a shame it hasn't been available all year.

and it showed, and it's a shame it have only played that team about

eight times have only played that team about

control in this game. We were competing until the last moment.

That is the most important thing. Everything is possible. The Watford

fans, today, they are happy with the team. We came out in the second half

and I thought for the first 20 minutes we were the better team, and

we got the goal. I thought we looked like a team who would go on to win

it. Then we conceded a sloppy like a team who would go on to win

and we couldn't get an equaliser. It wasn't to be. Fair play to Palace.

They played well. Hopefully they go on to win. You are safe in the

Premier League with room to spare. You have reached the semifinal of

the FA Cup. A good season for you and Watford, first season back in

the top division? Yeah, we have all of the reasons to enjoy this

weekend. We have reasons to be happy. Our main target in the season

was to keep the game improving, very important for the future. Some years

after, when we look at the history of Watford, we will see how

important it is to be competitive here. On the whole, a fantastic

season, FA Cup semifinal, joint 11th in the Premier League with the

possibility of finishing in the top ten. Before the season, if somebody

had offered us that, we would have snapped their hands off. Crystal

Palace against Manchester United in the cup final. We've been here

before. We have. Seven minutes, I think, from winning it, and a game,

and I know that Sir Alex, I spoke to him many times, I saw him on

Wednesday, and I remember his career, in a way, that men united,

it was hinged on that. Maybe Louis Van Gaal's career will hinge on

this. It is a great day for us. But I am so pleased in the final. I like

the guy. I think he has had some terrible press. I look forward to

seeing him in the final. Some interesting thoughts from Alan

Pardew and his opposite number, but it is Crystal Palace to go through.

Martin has joined the pitch side along with Chris Sutton. The right

team through to the final? I think so. Bolasie and Zaha really taking

the game to Watford. It was a slow start. They improved in the second

half. But I think the Watford players will go away disappointed

that they didn't really turn up. I think it is tough for them, a lot of

them playing at Wembley for the first time. That is difficult. Now

we have a fitting final. Very interesting to see how it turned

out. The threat of Bolasie would worry me if I was a Manchester

United player. Regrets in the Watford dressing room? I wonder

whether the talk of Sanchez Clara 's leading might have derailed them at

all. But they didn't have a shot in the end. The right team won. You

would have been happy with Yannick Bolasie's shot. That was my thought

of range from half a yard. The worry for me was Delaney on the near post,

nobody marking him, and he couldn't miss. It suited Palace today. They

are a counterattacking team. They controlled the first half. Cabaye's

Ed Balls, they were putting in the corners, the variation. You don't

often see the near post Philip that we had. -- Cabaye's Ed Balls. They

had options. That was the difference. The delivery from

Watford at times wasn't good enough. Watford took a while to come back

out fighting, but they did after the start of the second half. Troy

Deeney got them back in it. Is fighting qualities were outstanding.

He got them back into it. We didn't get to see Ighalo stand up very

often. Scott Dann when Gallo ran at him -- Scott Dann was booked when

Ighalo ran at him. The Watford striker were surviving on scraps. We

talk that therefore not been good of late, but they didn't get any

service of late. Watford didn't do enough. They should a bit more

intensity in the second half but the goal came out of nothing. Palace

were still in control. They had up the at half-time but Palace saw the

game could comfortably. Connor the at half-time but Palace saw the

Wickham, was he harsh on himself? Well, he gave the ball away, but

they still had to defend the set piece better. That would have

worried me as a Palace player or Alan Pardew at that time. They

dominated the game. I thought they should have had a penalty. I wonder

whether Britos should have been sent off. At 1-1, you think, is it going

to be our day? Watford were only level for six minutes. I came back

level through Connor Wickham, Crystal Palace. He has had a

troubling season, injury wise. He has had an awful time of it with

injuries. He scores spectacular goals. He is hung in the air.

Perhaps the -- perhaps the keeper might have done better, on

reflection. The powers through the air. That is what he is therefore,

to score those goals. He just wants to keep himself fit. Alan Pardew

really believes in him. He was right to do that. For Palace, they had so

much pace, so much threat. Zaha had plenty of chances. Should he have

got one away? I thought he was a handful all afternoon. He is a ball

carrier. When you have Zaha, you have Bolasie, I thought that Connor

Wickham, not a natural goal-scorer, but he holds the ball up so well. He

is just going to get better. What do Palace need to do before they come

back next month? They worry me as a team. At the beginning of the

season, they started very well. Their form recently, one win in the

Premier League, it's been awful. April has improved a bit. They need

to find some consistency. They are playing for their futures. They were

playing for an FA Cup final place. The form of Bolasie and Zaha is

improving, Wickham needs to play more regularly. This team today was

better than the one midweek, totally different. I am suspicious of them.

Alan Pardew will need to keep pushing. Alan Pardew spoke before

the game about getting his best 11 players on the field. This team

played the first seven games and they were successful. This team has

a chance against anybody. Especially in the final. When you think of the

twist of Zaha playing his old club, Manchester United, brilliant story.

It will be Crystal Palace against Manchester United in the final. If

you missed yesterday, there is what happened.

It goes high and long towards Lukaku to see if he can create some chaos.

The angle is tight. Not of the line. Rooney got all the way back. Should

have scored. What a clearance from Wayne Rooney. Look at him sprinting

back. Fellaini. Rooney. Jesse Lingard,

onside. And the sale is made. What an opening start it has been.

Everton should be one down after that. That was an amazing chance.

Fellaini! Scored in the replay in the quarterfinal against West Ham.

He scores the opening the quarterfinal against West Ham.

semifinal against his former club. Marouane Fellaini for Manchester

United. 1-0. Well, it is that man Marshall causing the damage again.

Just too easy, and a great pick out. -- batsman Anthony Martial.

Tom Cleverley getting forward on the left. This is the chance they have

been waiting for, Ross Barkley, penalty. It could be salvation for

Everton. First, he misses it, then he gets it. There was a slight touch

on Ross Barkley's right foot. This is huge. Brilliant save! Absolutely

magnificent save! He has done it again, David de Gea. Brilliant save.

What an unbelievable hand Did really well, back post, Tom

Cleverley! He wants another penalty, but he isn't going to get that. It

is a goal kick. Tom Cleverley has to but he isn't going to get that. It

keep it down there. Got to do better. It's an

Jesse Lingard calling for the cutback, instead it went to

Fellaini. How they kept that out, Everton, I don't know. But Jack

Kyoko, lying on the post, made the block. -- but Phil Jagielka. Got

away with that one. Driven in. Own goal. 1-1 at Wembley.

Everton are right back in Driven in. Own goal. 1-1 at Wembley.

semifinal. It was a good move from Everton.

semifinal. It was a good move from build-up play. It is a poor own goal

from Chris Smalling, but it is a build-up play. It is a poor own goal

defend. Lukaku has done brilliantly. Look at this. Rooney has got back.

defend. Lukaku has done brilliantly. Perfect ball. What can Ross Barkley

do? Lukaku, surely. Fellaini to the rescue. One of the best tackles I've

seen this season. That is rescue. One of the best tackles I've

talk about effort, commitment, down for the cause, putting your body on

the line. Unbelievable for Fellaini. Anthony Martial, a chance to win it.

He has! That will do it for Manchester

United. They are surely into the FA Cup final. And the goal comes in

what they Cup final. And the goal comes in

Manchester United 2, heartbroken Everton 1.

So Manchester United play Crystal Palace in the final, a rerun of that

1990 final, and that was a cracker. It certainly was. An old team-mate

of mine, Ian Wright, really launched himself into the big-time, coming

off the bench with a broken leg, it went to 3-3, but the replay was a

bit disappointing. Lots of memories. I am sure that Alan Pardew will want

to change that scoreline. He has been so close to winning it, both as

a player and as a manager. He will be hoping for first -- third time

lucky. This is something to look forward to. It is, especially the

way that Manchester United have been performing with this season,

inconsistent. If Palace get this 11 out on the final, they will have a

chance. It was a much improved Manchester United yesterday. But how

much would a cart help Louis Van Gaal right now, help their season,

help bring some love back to the fans? -- how much would a cup. They

are playing their best football of the season. Almost by accident,

Lingard, Rashford, they are playing with experienced players. Wayne

Rooney now playing in a different position. They are coming into their

own. They know how to play at Wembley. They go in as the

favourites. But you never know in this competition. There may be a

moment of inspiration. There are players that would frighten me in

this Palace team. Capoue as well, they could be a story there, going

back against his previous team. In set pieces, Manchester United are

not always brilliant. But Louis Van Gaal can win it. If he takes fourth

place in the jumping ship, he has had an OK season. I don't think he

is. I don't think he will be there next season, regardless of whether

the wings. I don't think that the fans have bought into his style of

play. I think he will be a goner. It doesn't matter if he is there next

season. The important thing is that he is there this year. We can call

him one of the things we want, but if he wins the FA Cup, he goes away

a winner. We will all look forward to that. Don't forget, you can get a

further FA Cup fix with our special catch up programme available on

Monday morning via the eye player. Thanks to Martin and Chris for

joining me at Wembley. -- on the iPlayer. We will be back on maybe

21st for the 125th FA Cup final. It should be a cracker.

Kicked on towards the far post. Yannick Bolasie! Anthony Martial, a

chance to win it. He has! Connor Wickham! Crystal Palace are through

to the FA Cup final. I've been following

the inspirational stories Along with hundreds of

other wounded, injured