Watford kept their play-off hopes alive with a powerful performance against Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road.

Graham Taylor's men, still in seventh place, would have scored several goals had it not been for poor finishing and some fine saves by former Watford keeper Kevin Miller.

In the end Watford were left hanging on and almost regretting their early opportunities after Palace pulled a goal back four minutes from normal time.

Watford got off to a flying start, taking the lead after six minutes.

Micah Hyde's a low cross from the left fooled Miller who was expecting Guy Whittingham to meet it.

So was Palace defender Sun Jihai who got the faintest of deflections to send the ball into the net.

Miller atoned with several fine saves, tipping over from Tommy Mooney's header and making a fine stop to deny Nick Wright.

The visiting keeper could only block another drive from Wright but his defence swept up the loose ball.

Miller reserved his best save until shortly before half-time when he tipped over a fierce drive from Peter Kennedy.

Determined defending early in the second half saw Watford make two clearances on the line as Clinton Morrison was presented with chances inside the six-yard box.

Watford promptly broke away and scored.

They won a free-kick on the right, Kennedy fired the ball in and Mooney turned it past Miller.

Substitute Michel Ngonge then squandered a great chance and Miller made another good save, this time to deny a goal-bound Mooney header.

Mooney and Hyde went close again but in the 87th minute Palace pulled a goal back.

Dean Austin provided the cross, Morrison nodded down and Leon McKenzie swept the ball in. B

ut it was no more than a consolation for the visitors.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Bazeley, Kennedy, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Whittingham (Ngonge 45), Hyde, Mooney, Johnson, Wright (Smith 79).

Subs Not Used: Hazan.

Booked: Mooney, Robinson.

Goals: Hyde 6, Mooney 53.

Crystal Palace: Miller, Jihai (Carlisle 45), Petric (Frampton 6), Austin, Woozley, Thomson (Graham 77), Foster, Zhiyi, McKenzie, Morrison, Mullins.

Booked: Morrison.

Goals: McKenzie 87.

Att: 15,590

Ref: E Lomas (Manchester).