Brendan Rodgers' Watford side survived a late rally to see off spirited Crystal Palace and progress into the FA Cup fifth round.

Palace boss Neil Warnock was critical of his defence after last weekend's 4-1 thrashing by Ipswich and saw goalkeeper Julian Speroni again beaten four times to put paid to any hopes of progress.

Jay DeMerit lashed an unstoppable volley home after a corner was poorly defended before Jack Cork guided a header in to cap a fine counterattack.

Clint Hill's header early in the second half dragged the Eagles back into it but strikers Will Hoskins and Grzegorz Rasiak scored fine goals after the break.

That looked to have sealed victory and ensure Neil Danns' late strike was nothing more than a consolation but Paul Ifill's strike deep into stoppage time ensured a nervy finish.

Before the game attention was focused on a host of absentees at Vicarage Road.

Graham Taylor was this week appointed as a non-executive director 25 years after he guided the club to an FA Cup final defeat to Everton.

But he was not in the stadium to watch this generation of Hornets as his broadcasting commitments forced him to miss out.

Winger Tommy Smith - Watford's best player this season - was left out of the 16 sparking speculation of an imminent move, though club officials insisted he was merely being rested.

And for the Eagles, midfielder Ben Watson was not in the squad as he continues to mull over a £2million move to Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough.

John Oster had a decent header blocked by Adrian Mariappa before DeMerit put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute.

Jobi McAnuff's corner was scuffed clear by Jose Fonte to DeMerit on the penalty spot. The American controlled the ball on his chest and lashed a volley high into the top corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

Watford then scored with a quick break in the 27th minute.

Rasiak sent McAnuff clear down the left and after he cut inside teenage full-back Nathaniel Clyne the former Palace winger delivered an accurate deep cross to the back post where Cork had galloped forward to loop a header back across Speroni and into the far corner.

Palace were dire in the first half but pulled a goal back in the 48th minute.

Oster delivered a deep free-kick from the left and after Alan Lee had headed back across goal Hill flicked an accurate header into the side of the netting from 10 yards.

Palace dominated after the break but Watford hit a crucial third with their first attack in the 67th minute.

Hoskins' clever flick released Rasiak in the area but the Pole hesitated and was denied by a fine block from Matt Lawrence.

McAnuff latched on to the rebound but his volley was kept out by a combination of Speroni and Lawrence.

The defender did brilliantly to deny the hosts but from the corner Rasiak headed down to Hoskins who swivelled to plant a powerful left-footed strike home.

It was fine technique but Rasiak went one better in scoring the fourth three minutes later.

McAnuff ran the length of the field before squaring to Rasiak on the corner of the penalty area.

The chance looked to have gone when he took a touch to come inside but the on-loan Southampton striker curled a stunning shot around Speroni and into the top corner with the outside of his left foot.

Danns scrambled home in the 82nd minute when he missed a free header but reacted to smash home from close range.

And Ifill then struck in the fourth of five added minutes when he ran on to Shefki Kuqi's header to beat Scott Loach at his near post.

Teams:

Watford Loach, Hoyte (Kiernan 90), DeMerit, Mariappa, Doyley,Cork, McAnuff, Harley, Jenkins, Rasiak (O'Toole 77),Hoskins (Bridcutt 86).

Subs Not Used: Searle, Sadler, Eustace, Bangura.

Goals: DeMerit 17, Cork 27, Hoskins 67, Rasiak 70.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Clyne (Butterfield 76), Lawrence,Fonte, Hill, Derry (Fletcher 75), Danns, Ifill, Oster,Lee (Kuqi 78), Moses.

Subs Not Used: Carle, Flahavan, Scannell, Hills.

Booked: Fonte, Lee, Danns.

Goals: Hill 48, Ifill 83, 90.

Att: 10,006

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).