Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace: Patrick Vieira waiting for first win as boss as Ashley Fletcher scores winner
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Ashley Fletcher's goal was his first of the season
Patrick Vieira is still waiting for his first win and goal as Crystal Palace manager as a late goal by debutant Ashley Fletcher guided Watford into the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Vieira's side dominated the game and striker Jean-Philippe Mateta saw two first-half efforts saved by Ben Foster.
Foster also denied Christian Benteke while midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate hooked over the bar.
Fletcher sealed the win by stretching to turn home a Cucho Hernandez cross.
With a week of the summer transfer remaining Vieira, who is managing in the Premier League for the first time, might be looking for a new centre-forward.
His side have had 22 shots across Tuesday's cup game and their opening two Premier League games but have only hit the target five times.
Mateta tested Foster at his near post before William Troost-Ekong brilliantly headed a teasing Conor Gallagher cross over his own bar when under pressure from Mateta.
Watford, who only had one shot in the first half, improved after the break with Troost-Ekong and Hernandez both having chances before the latter found space down the left swing, cut back and curled over a delightful cross for Fletcher, who joined the club on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough this summer, to poke home.
It is the third successive season that Palace have been knocked out in round two.
Watford manager Xisco Munoz to BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was a very good performance and I'm very happy with the players. We gave chances to a lot of players tonight and they showed they can cope with the situation.
"I am happy with the squad, and we can say 'congrats tonight, you gave a good performance'. It is important for the team and squad, and it is good for improving our mentality."
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira: "We have to change our mentality when we are in the opposition half. We have to be more aggressive and determined to take those chances because today we didn't.
"There is a lot of frustration on our side because I think we created enough to win. I am disappointed because up front we have to improve ourselves. If we want to win football matches, we have to score goals and this is not the case."
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