Crystal Palace can win on the road versus former play-off foes Watford

Both Watford and Crystal Palace (2/1 match favourites with Coral) sit safely midtable on nine Premier League points apiece ahead of their Sunday duel, but these pair of plucky outsiders should see this as an ideal encounter to propel themselves upwards.

Palace memorably last met the Hornets in 2013 for a Championship play-off at Wembley. That grand stage saw former Eagles attacker Kevin Phillips convert an extra-time spot-kick and catapult the London club back into the top tier, where they have remained ever since.

Now Watford have caught up with their former rivals, however, and are 6/4 to take the spoils on Hertfordshire soil, having taken to top-flight football impressively despite undergoing such an extensive overhaul of coach and squad in summer.

There is plenty of history here, with the Eagles just edging 110 head-to-heads with 45 wins across all competitions, though the last league tussle between the two ended evenly and is 9/4 to do so again.

As Palace have lost none of their past four trips to Vicarage Road they seem smart to back, especially with the capital club seemingly much more comfortable on the road, where they are better on the break.

Dangerous Dwight Gayle hit a hat-trick last time out on Capital One Cup duty, as Alan Pardew oversaw a 4-1 thrashing of former club Charlton Athletic, and the in-form forward is 2/1 to be on target again anytime.

It looked as though over-performing Palace were back on track terrifically after two defeats on the trot to big-guns Manchester City and Tottenham, so the Londoners look good value at 24/5 to win and both teams to score.

Adaptable attackers Yannick Bolasie and Bakary Sako have struck up a promising understanding, and are both priced at 7/1 to open and close the scoring respectively.

Hosts Watford have shown they will not be downed without a fight, however, and come into this clash on the back of two wins on the bounce.

With only one league loss so far, the Hertfordshire side are unbeaten on home turf and should be tough for the Eagles to break down. As for forward threats, Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has so far been the Hornets’ hitman of the season, and is 7/1 to bag a brace or better after downing Newcastle United with a deadly double.

Skipper and striker Troy Deeney is amazingly still to get off the mark, but the proven poacher is superb at 7/4 to break his duck anytime in this encounter. While, customers keen on former scorers in this clash can back midfielder Almen Abdi, who poached the Championship opener against Palace back in 2013, and is 12/1 to do so again.

Betting tip: Palace @ 24/5 to win with both teams to score is tempting