2013 Football League Championship play-off final

{{main|2012–13 Football League Championship}}

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Watford finished the regular 2012–13 season in third place in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, two places ahead of Crystal Palace. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Watford finished two points behind Hull City (who were promoted in second place) and ten behind league winners Cardiff City. Crystal Palace ended the season five points behind Watford.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/2013/|title=League Championship end of season table for 2012–13 season|website=11v11.com |access-date=3 May 2020}}

Crystal Palace faced Brighton & Hove Albion in their play-off semi-final, the first leg being played at Selhurst Park. The game ended goalless but Palace's top scorer Glenn Murray was injured and had to be carried off on a stretcher midway through the second half after suffering what was suspected to be a cruciate ligament injury.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22414006 | title = Crystal Palace 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 3 May 2020 | date = 10 May 2013 | first = Neil | last = Johnston | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200201100616/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22414006 | archive-date = 1 February 2020 | url-status = live }} The second leg was held three days later at Falmer Stadium, a venue at which Brighton had not lost since January. Palace went into the match having won once in their past eleven games and, as expected, without Murray. He was replaced by Aaron Wilbraham who had scored once in his 25 appearances that season. Wilfried Zaha put Palace ahead midway through the second half with a header from Yannick Bolasie and double their advantage late in the game, striking the ball into the roof of the net. The 2–0 aggregate win ensured the London club's qualification for the final.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22424087 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 3 May 2020 | date = 13 May 2013 | first = Emlyn | last = Begley | title = Brighton & Hove Albion 0–2 Crystal Palace | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200201100625/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22424087 | archive-date = 1 February 2020 | url-status = live }}

In the other play-off semi-final, Watford's opponents were Leicester City, and the first leg was played at the King Power Stadium. The hosts won the match 1–0 with a David Nugent header from an Anthony Knockaert free kick late on.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22413989| title = Leicester City 1–0 Watford | access-date = 3 May 2020 | date = 9 May 2013 | publisher = BBC Sport | first = Owen | last = Phillips}} In the second leg, Matěj Vydra, recently named the Championship Player of the Year at the Football League Awards,{{Cite web | url = https://www.efl.com/news/2013/march/vydra-is-npower-championship-player-of-the-year/ | publisher = English Football League | title = Vydra is npower Championship Player of the Year | date = 24 March 2013| access-date = 3 May 2020}} put Watford into the lead with a left-foot volley from a Marco Cassetti pass into the far corner of Kasper Schmeichel's goal. Nugent restored parity in the leg with another header from a Knockaert corner, before Vydra played a one-two with Troy Deeney to score his second and equalise the semi-final 2–2 on aggregate. Leicester were awarded an injury time penalty: Knockaert stepped up to take it only to see it saved, and in the immediate counter-attack, Jonathan Hogg's knock-down was finished by Deeney to give Watford a 3–2 aggregate victory and passage to the final.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22417772 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 3 May 2020 | date = 12 May 2013 | first = Mandeep | last = Sanghera | title = Watford 3–1 Leicester City | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190502094757/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22417772 | archive-date = 2 May 2019 | url-status = live }}

File:Glen Murray 21-07-2012.jpg who had scored 30 goals during the regular season.]]

File:14-06-03-Česko-Rakousko-Olomouc-nr12-1.jpg went off injured at half time in the final.]]

This was Crystal Palace's fifth appearance in the second tier play-off final, with their most recent being in the 2004 final at the Millennium Stadium which they won 1–0 against West Ham United.{{Cite web | url = https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2074283-how-the-last-20-play-off-winners-have-fared-in-their-first-premier-league-season | publisher = Bleacher Report | access-date = 3 May 2020 | date = 24 May 2014 | title = How the Last 20 Play-Off Winners Have Fared in Their First Premier League Season | first = Karl | last = Matchett | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140525024959/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2074283-how-the-last-20-play-off-winners-have-fared-in-their-first-premier-league-season | archive-date = 25 May 2014 | url-status = live }}{{Cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm| title = Crystal Palace 1–0 West Ham| date = 29 May 2004| access-date = 3 May 2020| publisher = BBC Sport| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180928203847/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm| archive-date = 28 September 2018| url-status = live}} Palace had also won the 1989 final (over two legs) and the 1997 final, and had lost the 1996 final.{{Cite web | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214128/https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats | url = https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats | archive-date = 9 October 2016 | date =25 May 2015 | work = Sporting Life | access-date = 3 May 2020| title = Play-Off Final History & Stats}} Watford also had play-off final experience, winning both their previous appearances, in the 1999 and 2006 finals. During the regular season, Crystal Palace lost their home game against 3–2 in August 2012 in what was Gianfranco Zola's first league match as manager of Watford.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19221446 | title = Crystal Palace 2–3 Watford | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 18 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190413032329/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19221446 | archive-date = 13 April 2019 | url-status = live }} The return game played at Vicarage Road the following February ended in a 2–2 draw.{{Cite web| url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/matches/season/2013/| website = 11v11.com| access-date = 4 May 2020| title = Crystal Palace football club match record: 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170504120931/http://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/matches/season/2013/| archive-date = 4 May 2017| url-status = live}} Murray was Palace's top scorer with 30 while Vydra had scored the most for Watford with 22.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22515182 | title = Watford boss Gianfranco Zola 'lost it' after play-off winner | date = 13 May 2013 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 4 May 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010637/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22515182 | archive-date = 31 March 2019 | url-status = live }}

Both clubs sold out their allocation of tickets at Wembley Stadium, with Palace selling 33,000 tickets and Watford more than 34,000.{{Cite web | url = https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2013/may/play-off-final-tickets-sold-out/| title = Play-Off Final Tickets sold out| publisher = Crystal Palace F.C. | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 17 May 2013}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10430221.watford-have-sold-their-ticket-allocation-for-the-championship-play-off-final-against-crystal-palace/ | work = Watford Observer| access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 20 May 2013| title = Watford have sold their ticket allocation for the Championship play-off final against Crystal Palace}} The final was refereed by Martin Atkinson of the West Riding County Football Association, with assistant referees Stuart Burt and Peter Kirkup, while Neil Swarbrick acted as the fourth official.{{Cite web | url = https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10424215.martin-atkinson-will-referee-the-championship-final-between-watford-and-crystal-palace-at-wembley/ | work = Watford Observer| access-date = 4 May 2020 | title = Martin Atkinson will referee the Championship final between Watford and Crystal Palace at Wembley | date = 16 May 2013}} It was reported in the press and media that the match was worth more than £120{{nbsp}}million over four years to the winning club through sponsorship and television appearances.{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/27/crystal-palace-watford-live-championship-play-off-final | work = The Guardian | first = Barry | last = Glendenning | author-link = Barry Glendenning | title = Crystal Palace v Watford – as it happened | date = 27 May 2013 | access-date = 13 December 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415200447/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/27/crystal-palace-watford-live-championship-play-off-final | archive-date = 15 April 2016 | url-status = live }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831 | title = Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford (aet) | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 27 May 2013 | first = Paul | last = Fletcher | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170420075213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831 | archive-date = 20 April 2017 | url-status = live }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/10082271/Crystal-Palace-1-Watford-0-Championship-play-off-final-match-report.html | work = The Daily Telegraph | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 27 May 2013 | first = Henry | last = Winter | author-link = Henry Winter | title = Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0: Championship play-off final: match report | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200108022519/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/10082271/Crystal-Palace-1-Watford-0-Championship-play-off-final-match-report.html | archive-date = 8 January 2020 | url-status = live }}

Seven of Watford's starting line-up were on loan at the club, four from Italian club Udinese, two from Spanish team Granada and one from Chelsea. Palace's soul loanee was Zaha who had been sold to Manchester United in the January transfer window and loaned back to the south London club. He was declared fit to play despite picking up an ankle injury in the semi-final, so Palace's team was unchanged. Daniel Pudil and Hogg were recalled to the Watford side, having been absent from the team that defeated Leicester City in the semi-final. Wilbraham retained his place in the Palace team as Murray's first semi-final injury kept him sidelined.

Watford kicked the match off shortly after 3{{nbsp}}p.m. in front of a Wembley crowd of 82,025. After a brief interlude to remove some balloons which had descended from the spectators into the Crystal Palace penalty area, Watford won a free kick for a foul on Deeney. The resulting set piece was cleared, and on 8 minutes, Palace's Jonny Williams was brought down by Hogg for another free kick, which came to nothing. Three minutes later, Joel Ekstrand received the first yellow card of the game after a late tackle on Wilbraham. Palace's South African international defender Kagisho Dikgacoi went down with a calf injury in the 15th minute and was replaced two minutes later by Stuart O'Keefe in the first substitution of the afternoon. A counter attack from Palace midway through the first half saw Zaha holding off two Watford defenders, enabling him to pass to Owen Garvan who delayed his shot too long and allowed Lloyd Doyley to block. The second yellow card of the afternoon was shown to Jedinak in the 28th minute after a poor challenge on Almen Abdi. Five minutes later, Vydra's first shot on goal was blocked by Palace defender Damien Delaney, but by the end of the half the Watford striker was visibly struggling after picking up an injury. Despite the clubs being the two top-scoring teams in the division, the half ended goalless.

Over the half-time break, Watford's Vydra was replaced by the Spanish striker Alexandre Geijo. Palace kicked off the second half and after two minutes the first chance fell to Watford's loanee Nathaniel Chalobah whose long-range strike went wide. Abdi's shot was then blocked by Delaney; meanwhile Jedinak began to struggle. In the 58th minute, a Geijo shot was easily saved by Julián Speroni in the Palace goal. Two minutes later a Wilbraham shot was blocked by Watford's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Abdi then brought down O'Keefe, who reacted to the challenge: both players were booked. Geijo then forced a save from Speroni in the 63rd minute before O'Keefe's effort from a Zaha square pass was saved by Almunia. In the 66th minute, Kevin Phillips came on to replace Williams for Palace. Twice in quick succession the Watford defence failed to deal with Palace attacks, but still the deadlock remained. With 18 minutes remaining, a cross from Zaha was headed back across goal by Phillips but Garvan failed to find the target, curling his shot past the outside of the post. Chalobah was then substituted off, with another loanee, Cristian Battocchio, coming on to replace him. With seven minutes remaining, Almunia saved a Wilbraham shot before Garvan was replaced by André Moritz in Palace's final substitution of the match. Fernando Forestieri was then brought on for Ikechi Anya. Both teams had chances to break the deadlock but after three minutes of added-on time, the referee Martin Atkinson brought the second half to a close, still goalless, for extra time to be played.

Watford kicked off the first period of extra time, and three minutes in, Deeney brought another save from Speroni. Forestieri then shot wide from a tight angle. Nine minutes in, Danny Gabbidon conceded a corner which, taken by Abdi, was struck by Battocchio through a group of defenders and saved by Speroni. Dean Moxey was then booked for a foul on Forestieri, becoming the sixth player of the afternoon to receive a yellow card. On the brink of half time, Cassetti fouled Zaha in the Watford box and Palace were awarded a penalty. The spot kick was struck into the top-left corner by Phillips, putting Palace 1–0 ahead. Four minutes into the second half, a corner from Abdi was gathered by Speroni before Deeney could capitalise on the loose ball. In the 23rd minute, a free kick from Abdi from {{convert|25|yd}} was easily caught by Speroni. With two minutes remaining, Joel Ward blocked an Ekstrand shot with his stomach; appeals for a penalty were dismissed by Atkinson. Forestieri then went close as Ward was forced to clear his shot off the Palace goal line. Two corners for Watford came to nothing and the referee blew his whistle to signify the end of extra time and the match, with Palace winning 1–0.

{{football box

|date=27 May 2013

|time=15:00 BST

|team1=Crystal Palace

|score=1–0

|aet=yes

|team2=Watford

|goals1=Phillips {{goal|105+1|pen.}}

|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22592831 Report]

|stadium=Wembley Stadium, London

|attendance=82,025

|referee=Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

}}

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| style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

File:Wilfried Zaha 17-12-2016 1.jpg

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway said: "I've been very fortunate to have worked with some great players and I'm very grateful to this bunch. We're in the Premier League now and{{nbsp}}... god help us. We battled hard." He went on to say "It all starts now for me because the minute we kick off next season we're on a hiding to nothing{{nbsp}}... We've got to make sure we can compete and I want to stay there."{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22684108 | title = Ian Holloway: Crystal Palace are 'on a hiding to nothing' | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 28 May 2013}} Zola was gracious in defeat and conceded that Palace "played well and probably deserved it more than us, so congratulations to them{{nbsp}}... I had no complaints about their penalty{{nbsp}}... Wilfried Zaha made a huge difference."{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22683929 | title = Crystal Palace deserved win, says Watford boss Gianfranco Zola | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 4 May 2020 | date = 27 May 2013}} Phillips spoke of his winning penalty strike and his future: "I had in my mind where I wanted to take it, I was happy to take it. I picked my spot and stuck to it. I don't know if that's going to be my last match, but if it is, what a way to sign off." Zaha was named man of the match.{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11686/8738984/Championship-play-offs-Watford-s-Gianfranco-Zola-praises-Wilfried-Zaha |title=Watford's Gianfranco Zola praises Wilfried Zaha |publisher=Sky Sports |date=27 May 2013 |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816114442/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11686/8738984/Championship-play-offs-Watford-s-Gianfranco-Zola-praises-Wilfried-Zaha |archive-date=16 August 2018 |url-status=live }}

Crystal Palace ended the next season in 11th place in the Premier League, 12 points above the relegation zone.{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/leagueTables/2014/ | title = Premier League table at close of 2013–14 season| website=11v11.com | access-date= 4 May 2020}} Watford finished the following season in 13th place, 16 points above the relegation zone but 12 points outside the play-offs.{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/watford/tab/leagueTables/2014/ | title = League Championship table at close of 2013–14 season| website=11v11.com | access-date= 4 May 2020}}

{{reflist}}

{{English Football League play-offs|C}}

{{Crystal Palace F.C. matches}}

{{Watford F.C. matches}}

Category:EFL Championship play-off finals

1

Play-off Final

Play-off Final 2013

Play-off Final 2013

Football League Championship play-off final

Football League Championship play-off final