Andrew Johnson rammed the taunts of the Watford fans down their throats by firing Crystal Palace to a third consecutive victory.

The England striker was barracked by the home crowd throughout - but scored a late, much-disputed penalty that enabled rejuvenated Palace to close the gap on their Coca-Cola Championship play-off rivals to two points.

Darren Ward had given the visitors a first-half lead, but Darius Henderson levelled for Watford, who looked the likely winners until referee Phil Dowd handed Palace a questionable spot-kick after Hornets defender Clarke Carlisle had contested possession with Clinton Morrison.

Fifth-placed Palace began the day one place below Watford - but it was they who struck the first blow in the 17th minute.

After a cagey opening, Jobi McAnuff swung over a free-kick to the far post that was scrambled back into the path of Ward, and the defender bundled in his second goal in as many games from eight yards.

Palace would argue the goal was poetic justice: they had won the original free-kick thanks to Lloyd Doyley's dreadful tackle on England striker Johnson, for which they defender somehow escaped a yellow card.

Only 32 minutes had passed when Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd brought on Ashley Young - who had been out for nearly a month with an ankle injury - for midfielder Matthew Spring.

Three minutes later, Johnson burst clear and switched play left to McAnuff, whose angled drive was superbly pushed around the post by Ben Foster.

Watford showed far more vitality at the start of the second half, and the dangerous Marlon King dragged a left-footed shot wide from 15 yards.

Palace also created chances - Johnson's 58th-minute shot was blocked by Malky Mackay and Tom Soares forced a fine save from Foster with an astute chip after the loose ball had fallen to him - but Watford deserved their 59th-minute equaliser.

King beat Ward to Gavin Mahon's long ball forward and headed it into the path of Henderson, who ran clear before shooting left-footed into the bottom-right corner from 12 yards.

Five minutes later, Gabor Kiraly made an instinctive save to deny Carlisle at the far post after Henderson had helped Young's cross towards the centre-back.

Just when it seemed Watford would score their second, Palace took the lead with a controversial penalty 19 minutes from full-time.

Watford protested loudly after Carlisle was harshly ruled to have pulled back Morrison - but Johnson had the final say by drilling the spot-kick beyond Foster, even though Watford continued to press and King went close twice.

Teams

Watford Foster, Doyley, Carlisle, Mackay, Chambers, Spring (Young 31), Mahon, Bangura, McNamee, King, Henderson.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Stewart, DeMerit, Devlin.

Booked: Henderson.

Goals: Henderson 59.

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Boyce, Ward, Popovic, Fitz Hall, McAnuff, Hughes (Hudson 90), Soares, Leigertwood, Johnson (Freedman 90), Morrison (Andrews 90).

Subs Not Used: Watson, Speroni.

Booked: Johnson, Fitz Hall, Leigertwood, Morrison.

Goals: Ward 18, Johnson 72 pen.

Att: 15,856

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).