Crystal Palace 3-0 Watford match report: The Sunday Mirror verdict

A virtuoso show from Victor Moses drew a sparkling display from Crystal Palace as the Eagles swept aside their London rivals and stretched their unbeaten run to six.

The England youngster scored the opening goal and went on to terrorise a Watford side that looked devoid of ideas for most of the afternoon.

Palace boss Neil Warnock said: “I asked Victor before the game to go out and win it for us – and that is the first one he’s won for us this season.

“I asked him to do his tricks like he does in training and he was positive.

“He should be in the Premier League and he’ll find it easier there because he’ll get more time and space and he has such ability over the first five yards. He’ll set it on fire when he gets there. He’s got a great future.”

Palace were two-up inside six minutes due, for the most part, to shocking defending from the visitors.

First, Alan Lee headed a long clearance from Julian Speroni into the path of Moses who nodded it down and rounded two defenders to fire home past keeper Scott Loach.

Four minutes later, it was Lee’s turn to leap above Lee Hodson at the far post and head home a cross from Danny Butterfield.

With Shaun Derry and Johnny Ertl bossing the midfield, Palace took control and might have added two or three more before the break, so complete was their dominance.

But the Hornets always looked dangerous on the break and Tom Cleverley, their young Manchester United loanee, impressed with several mazy runs and a swerving free-kick which grazed a post.

Speroni became the hero on the stroke of half-time when he saved a penalty from Danny Graham after Lee clumsily brought down Henri Lansbury.

Darren Ambrose scored his sixth goal in as many matches to extend the Eagles’ lead nine minutes into the second period.

The Palace top scorer stepped inside his marker and fired a gorgeous right-footed shot just inside the far upright after Moses had run 60 yards and beaten four defenders to feed him.

An Ambrose volley then flew inches wide after a cheeky flick from Moses had put the energetic Neil Danns through on goal.

Speroni was finally beaten by a shot from Cleverley but it hit a post. Not Watford’s day. But a special one for Moses.