FA Cup semi-finalists Watford gained a morale-boosting win ahead of Sunday's clash with Southampton when their much-changed side secured a second away win in four days.

Palace continued their poor sequence of results in a game low on quality between two teams with neither play-offs nor relegation at stake.

Only three players who had started Watford's amazing 7-4 win at Burnley on Saturday kept their places as Ray Lewington rested eight players with the Southampton cup tie in mind.

But Palace, who have now only taken five points from a possible 24, fell to David Hunt's own goal just before half-time.

The Selhurst Park crowd saw few clear-cut chances apart from an exciting period of play leading up to the interval, culminating in the goal.

Watford's Gifton Noel-Williams, trying to play himself into contention for the semi-final, blasted over from close range in the 34th minute and the Hornets were almost made to pay soon after when Dele Adebola's shot was well stopped by stand-in goalkeeper Richard Lee.

Palace again went close three minutes from half-time when Hunt's cross was met by Dougie Freedman, who sent a 20-yard strike past the upright.

Seconds later Michael Chopra had the chance to reinforce his claims for an FA Cup spot when he found space on the edge of the box. But the striker on loan from Newcastle, who had scored four goals at Burnley three days earlier, saw his effort saved by Alex Kolinko.

Lee Cook, whose crosses had caused most problem for the Palace defence throughout the half, forced the goal just seconds from half-time when his inswinging corner from the right came off the head of Hunt into the net.

The eight Watford changes saw Lee come in for Alec Chamberlain, while elsewhere Neil Cox, Stephen Glass, Neal Ardley, Paolo Vernazza, Micah Hyde, Allan Nielsen and Tommy Smith were all rested.

And though he started the game despite his weekend exertions, Chopra was taken off at half-time by Lewington, anxious to avoid the chance of suffering injuries to key men.

In his absence Watford looked less dangerous in the second half, and it was Palace who had the best opportunities after the break.

Danny Butterfield, who had clipped the outside of the post in the first attack of the game, shot wide from 20 yards in the 70th minute as Trevor Francis' side went looking for the equaliser.

The only other direct threat on goal in the half saw the impressive Cook power his 30-yard free-kick over Kolinko's crossbar as he staked his own claims to a place at Villa Park on Sunday.

Teams

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Mullins, Symons, Popovic, Hunt (Whelan 61), Derry (Routledge 45), Butterfield, Gray, Watson (Thomson 87), Freedman, Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Black, Berthelin.

Booked: Butterfield, Mullins.

Watford: Lee, Doyley, Brown, Dyche, Robinson, Mahon, Johnson, Cook, Hand, Chopra (Norville 45), Noel-Williams (Helguson 72).

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, McNamee, Ifil.

Booked: Johnson.

Goals: Hunt 45 og.

Att: 14,051

Ref: A Hall (West Midlands).