Dougie Freedman

The Eagles triumphed 4-0 against the Hornets

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman hailed his side after they brushed Watford aside yesterday.

Chris Martin’s brace along with efforts from Wilfried Zaha and Kagisho Dikgacoi secured the three points for the Eagles.

“I am not relieved at all (about getting that first win of the year),” the Palace boss said.

“We have been performing fantastically well over the last three or four games.

“The performances have merited wins so it is pleasing to get what you deserve and we certainly got that today.

“Over the last three or four games I felt our performances were very, very good but we didn’t quite get what we deserved.

“The players were fine during the run. It is not like we have been losing 3-0 or 4-0.

“We have drawn a number of matches and don’t get beat. It is as simple as that.

“We refuse to get beat, we refuse to leak goals, but our performances haven’t quite been there.”

The victory is Crystal Palace’s first in the league in 2012 but Freedman felt the win should have come earlier.

“Our performances at Middlesbrough (0-0 draw two weeks ago) and certainly on Tuesday at Bristol City (2-2 draw) merited three points so it has been a case of carrying on doing what we have been doing,” he added.

“It has been about sticking to the same game plan and knowing eventually you’ll get what you deserve.

“It was pleasing that the players didn’t have any sort of negative thoughts in their minds about when the win will come.

“It was pleasing to see that they kept on sticking to what they do best, knowing the wins will come.”