FOLLOWING the match, Aidy Boothroyd was still shell shocked at how his side didn't manage to convert at least one of the chances they created at Vicarage Road today.

Their failure to find the back of the net cost the Hornets dear, as the Eagles scored twice after the break to win the game 2-0 and further increase their chances of making the play-offs.

The visitors made their pace count and the Golden Boys could not find a way back after goals from Paul Ifill and Victor Moses.

Watford created a hatful of chances but were unable to find a way past an impressive Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.

Boothroyd said: "We've had some terrific chances today, probably enough to win two to three games but people will only look at the result.

"I'm a little bit despondent as you can imagine and so are the players.

"We knew they were a good side on the counter attack, we knew they would come and sit and that's what they did.

"They mugged us on the first one because we didn't clear the ball correctly. We could have been three or four by then but we didn't take our chances.

"The game is about scoring goals and there's no doubt that we created chances but you've got to take them."

With results elsewhere going against the Hertfordshire side, the prospect of the play-offs is looking ever more likely for Boothroyd and his side.

It could be the second time in three years that the Golden Boys have taken part in the pressure cooker environment of the end of season lottery. 

Boothroyd added: "The play-offs is a completely different kettle of fish to the league.

"They're one-off games for big players and people with a big mentality. If we take our chances we will win the two remaining games and get some momentum, but 'if' is a big word and it's something that I've been saying for a while now that we've got to do."