Crystal Palace moved to within one point of Watford, and safety, after a 3-1 win at Vicarage Road.
John, Scannell and Danns on target for Palace
Crystal Palace moved to within one point of Watford, and safety, after a 3-1 win at Vicarage Road.
Palace claimed all three points as they found themselves three goals to the good with Stern John, Sean Scannell and Neil Danns all on target.
Danny Graham pulled one back for Watford with just minutes left, but it was far too little, far too late for the Hornets.
Watford could count themselves hard done by, however, despite the scoreline.
They hit the woodwork three times, found Eagles goalkeeper Julian Speroni and defender Paddy McCarthy in inspired form and referee Paul Taylor in a forgiving mood until he sent off Palace defender Lee Hills late on.
Boss Malky Mackay felt they should have had an early penalty when Will Buckley's cross struck McCarthy's arm, but ref Taylor was unmoved.
Close
Watford were denied a 15th-minute opener when Speroni superbly kept out Martin Taylor's point-blank header, and they came even closer when Tom Cleverley's 20-yard drive crashed against the crossbar.
But against the run of play Palace took the lead on the half-hour when Johnny Ertl's cross found its way to the far post where John, who was farmed out on loan to Ipswich earlier this term, was unmarked and headed past Scott Loach.
Watford went straight back on the attack but were frustrated again when a diving header by Henri Lansbury from Cleverley's corner somehow stayed out courtesy of the inside of the far post.
And shortly after the interval the visitors went two up. Scannell's initial header, from Darren Ambrose's cross, came back off the post but the rebound fell kindly for Palace as the young winger picked himself off the floor and sidefooted the ball past Loach.
Watford attempted to hit back again but Heidar Helguson put a lob over the top and fired another effort wide, before Danns hit the third with 25 minutes to go.
Loach could only parry Scannell's shot straight into the air and Danns was on hand to rifle the loose ball into an empty net.
Amazingly, Cleverley hit the post again with a 20-yard curler before Hornets substitute Graham finally found the net for their consolation.
Left-back Hills, who escaped with a booking for hauling down Lansbury in the first half, was sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow but Palace were celebrating moments later.
