Watford recorded a third straight win at the start of a top-flight season for the first time in their history courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
Having survived a first half in which they found themselves on the back foot for the most part, the Hornets took the lead through Roberto Pereyra eight minutes after the restart.
A fluke goal from Jose Holebas doubled that advantage with just under 20 minutes remaining, and Javi Gracia's side held out for all three points despite Wilfried Zaha pulling one back for the visitors.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
The Hornets are on the brink of club history having won their opening two games of the season, but Palace have shown plenty of signs of encouragement in the early stages of the campaign too, so this should be an intriguing contest today.
Both sides will be looking to survive first and foremost, but at the same time a top-half finish could be within the grasp of them this season should things go well.
I will look at both clubs in more depth a little later, but let's start with the team news...
Well, it is no real surprise to see Javi Gracia name an unchanged team for the Hornets following their victory at Turf Moor last weekend, with the Watford boss keeping faith with the same XI that picked up their first away win of the season.
That means that many of their summer signings once again have to wait for a full debut, with Ben Foster the only new arrival to have featured regularly so far this season.
Gerard Deulofeu and Miguel Britos are expected back in training next week too and so could be available after the international break, so this Watford side is only going to get stronger after their promising start to the campaign.
That goal at Turf Moor was the 99th competitive match Deeney has scored in for Watford, and should he find the back of the net again today then he would become only the fourth player in the club's history to reach a century - after Luther Blissett, Tommy Barnett and Ross Jenkins.
Watford appear to have plenty of attacking options at their disposal, though; Gray has opened his account for the season already, while Hughes was also on the scoresheet against Burnley and Doucoure was their standout player last term. Roberto Pereyra netted twice on the opening weekend too, so the burden of goalscoring has been shared around this Watford team now.
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Roy Hodgson has kept faith with the striker this afternoon despite another goalless display against former club Liverpool, and there is no doubt that the Belgian needs to improve his chance-to-goals ratio. Benteke had one of the best conversion ratios in the Premier League while at Aston Villa, but that has plummeted since.
Promising young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off in that game and so misses this one through suspension, with Joel Ward given the nod to replace him ahead of Martin Kelly at right-back. Aside from that, though, it is as you were for the Eagles.
Like Watford, Palace will be hopeful of their midfielders weighing in with goals throughout this season too, and Schlupp has already opened his account for the club while Townsend came inches away from doing so in sensational fashion against Liverpool last time out. Milivojevic is always a threat from set pieces too, so there are goals in this Palace team.
Zaha needs just one goal to become Palace's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, currently sitting level with Chris Armstrong on 23, but he has failed to score or assist a goal in any of his previous six Premier League appearances against Watford for Palace.
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It is Watford who will go into the game full of confidence, though, having made a very bright start to the season with two wins from two - one of only four teams still boasting a 100% record in the Premier League.
Watford have never won their opening three games of a top-flight season, and in their entire history it has only happened on three previous occasions throughout the divisions - most recently in 1998-99 in the second tier.
The Hornets also won their first three games in 1997-98 as a third-tier team, and in 1988-89 in the second tier once again.
Incredibly, this is the first time since 2014 that Watford have started a season with the same manager that they finished the last one with, and while the chopping and changing has worked to a certain extent so far, perhaps now the owners are seeing the benefits of sticking with a manager.
A 2-0 win over a Brighton side that has since beaten Manchester United and given Liverpool a run for their money was an even better opening-weekend result than it might have seemed at the time, while last weekend's 3-1 win away to Burnley - who finished seventh last term - was another notable result.
Considering Watford only one one of their last nine Premier League games at the end of last season, it is a significant improvement from Gracia's side so far.
Watford's main problem last term was keeping goals out rather than scoring them, though, particularly here at Vicarage Road where they conceded more home goals than any other team in the entire division in 2017-18.
In the Premier League alone that record stands at five wins and just one defeat in nine home games since the turn of the year, with that solitary loss being inflicted by Burnley in April 2018.
Palace have one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the Premier League, but their counter-attacking style is perhaps better suited to away games which could explain why they have experienced such an upturn in form on the road in recent months.
The Eagles have won their last two matches on the road as well, so if they take all three points from Vicarage Road then they would win three top-flight away games on the bounce for the first time since August 2015.
Indeed, Palace even went on a run of 10 consecutive Premier League away games without scoring a goal at one stage, but since then they have scored in 11 of their last 12 - only failing to net at this very ground in a 0-0 draw in April.
The potential targets were set up by an impressive 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage on the opening weekend, with Schlupp and Zaha getting the goals against the free-spending, much-fancied and newly-promoted hosts.
Hodgson's side made things difficult for a team expected to be Man City's main challengers for the title this season, and considered themselves unlucky to have been penalised for a penalty right on the stroke of half time. Hodgson will no doubt be looking to harness that feeling of injustice for today's game.
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Indeed, Palace have now lost only two of their last 10 Premier League games, with both of those defeats coming at home to Liverpool. The Eagles have won six of those games, though, so it constitutes a good run of form for them.
Palace need only go back as far as last season for the most extreme example of that, having lost all of their opening seven games of the season without scoring a single goal. It was the worst start to a campaign in Premier League history, but still they managed to finish 11th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
I am optimistic of goals in this game, and it should see two sides full of confidence going against each other. The defences of both teams can be shaky at times, which hopefully (for the neutral) will contribute to an entertaining affair. I'm going for a score draw!
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Watford 2-2 Crystal Palace
Tomkins has dropped out of the starting XI to be replaced by Martin Kelly, with Kaikai coming onto the bench.
The Eagles took four points off Watford last season, scoring two very late goals to steal a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park in December before playing out a goalless draw in April - the first 0-0 in this fixture for 10 years.
Indeed, that 2-0 win for Watford is their only home league triumph against Palace in their last 13 attempts.
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Zaha, Benteke
Townsend cuts back onto his left and puts a vicious inswinging cross into the middle which Benteke glances towards goal. Foster makes a brilliant reaction save to bat it away, although Benteke probably should have scored. The replays show that it actually came off his shoulder.
Townsend is again the architect as he skips away from Holebas before delivering a right-footed cross into the box which McArthur is allowed to run on to from a deep position. The midfielder simply has to score, but Foster makes himself big and pulls off another super stop!
WATCH: Ben Foster does well to deny Christian Benteke's header as he is called into action early on! 👐⚽@WatfordFC v @CPFC is live on Sky Sports PL now!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 26, 2018
📲 https://t.co/o1Qgye6pm2 pic.twitter.com/a6wSa3he8y
There have been chances for both sides - as well as a few talking points regarding bad challenges - but it is Palace who will feel that they should be ahead in this match.
Christian Benteke squandered the first with a miscued header which Foster reacted well to save, and the Watford keeper came to his side's rescue again just four minutes later to thwart McArthur from close range after the Palace midfielder had broken into the box.
Watford have been targeting Zaha from the start and the Palace winger has picked up a soft yellow himself, but he had every right to feel unhappy with this challenge.
WATCH: Wilfried Zaha was unhappy with this challenge from Étienne Capoue early on! 😠
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 26, 2018
Was the Watford man lucky not to see red? 🔴@WatfordFC v @CPFC is the first match in today's Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports PL now! pic.twitter.com/RjfiCCOMkf
Javi Gracia will want to see more from his side in the coming 45 minutes, while Hodgson will be hoping that his men haven't missed their best chance to take all three points from this game.
A cross from the right is won by Deeney, who sends it up into the air. Capoue can't turn it goalwards, but the ball drops to Hughes, who sees his firm strike denied by Hennessey from point-blank range.
Big save from the Palace keeper!
Capoue, who is lucky to be on the pitch, is instrumental in creating the chance with a powerful run through midfielder which sees him burst past three defenders before giving the ball to Pereyra.
From there, though, it is all about the finish as Pereyra cuts inside Townsend before curling a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
7 - Roberto Pereyra has been directly involved in seven of Watford's last 10 goals in the Premier League, scoring six and assisting another. Talisman.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 26, 2018
It is brilliant from Benteke as he takes the ball down on his chest just inside the area before turning and unleashing a powerful, curling strike which looks destined for the top corner, but flies inches wide with Foster beaten.
The full-back cuts inside all too easily before swinging a right-footed cross into the box towards Deeney. However, it drifts over Hennessey and nestles into the top corner to leave Watford in complete control!
The winger exchanges passes with Meyer on the left flank and is perhaps offside when he receives the return ball. However, while Watford's defenders stop, Zaha carries on a drills a low strike through the legs of the keeper from a tight angle.
Foster perhaps should not be beaten from there, but there was plenty of power before Zaha's effort.
He may not have meant it, but could this goal from Holebas be the winner for @WatfordFC? 🐝
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 26, 2018
It's 2-1 to the hosts with 10 minutes to go! ⏰
Watch live on Sky Sports PL now or follow: https://t.co/o1Qgye6pm2 pic.twitter.com/MQ1HhjZXKu
In the end it is a freak goal from Jose Holebas which has earned the Hornets all three points, with his cross floating straight in after Roberto Pereyra had earlier given his side the lead with a rather more intentional finish into the same corner.
Wilfried Zaha pulled one back for the visitors with 12 minutes remaining, but they could not find that equaliser as they slumped to a second successive defeat.
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early kickoff as Watford hold out for an historic victory over Crystal Palace which takes them level with Liverpool at the top of the early Premier League table. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
We also have live coverage of Chelsea's trip to Newcastle to offer you, so be sure to check that out.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
