Crystal Palace moved out of the Championship’s relegation places after earning a point away at Watford following James Vaughan’s 40th minute equaliser.

The home side had taken a 10th minute lead through Andy Weimann, the on-loan from Aston Villa striker having time to pick his spot before firing past Julian Speroni.

It had taken good work down the left wing from Andros Townsend, turning Nathaniel Clyne before laying the ball off to Weimann, to create the chance for the big Austrian.

But Dougie Freedman’s men didn’t allow their heads to drop after this early setback and stuck to their task well, restricting Watford to one long range effort from Lloyd Doyley.

Vaughan, playing as the lone striker in the same 4-2-3-1 formation that was deployed against Norwich City, toiled upfront before taking his chance five minutes before the break.

Speroni was called into action to punch clear Danny Graham’s whipped-in cross, the ball falling to Wilfried Zaha who broke from midfield.

The England u19 international proceeded to then play in Vaughan, who held off Adrian Mariappa before smashing the ball past Scott Loach for his 6th goal of the season.

The start of the second half saw the fog set in and chances were at a premium.

Mariappa went close with a flying header for Watford and Paddy McCarthy got forward for the Eagles to trouble the opposition’s defence.

In the 72nd minute Graham set-up John Eustace on the edge of the area, but Speroni was equal to the Watford captain’s effort.

Sean Scannell led a Palace counter-attack in the 88th minute, only to be tackled in the box.

Late on Speroni had to make a routine save from a Graham free-kick whilst right at the end of the six minutes of added time that was played, substitute Troy Deeney shot wide.