Sport & Fitness

After starting like a train, Watford's season hit the buffers in late November and progress since has been as arduous as swimming in treacle. In the end, so much energy has been spent tottering over the line that there have to be doubts about the team's ability to dust themselves off in time. To put it another way, if I were a fan of a rival play-off side, I'd be wanting to face Watford. In a curious way, though, the fact that the Hornets' second leg will probably not be at Vicarage Rd could help them – the reason that they've held on to a play-off berth at all is their away form. Most people will fancy Palace – they have a history of play-off success and the story in Warnock – but now would be a good time for Aidy Boothroyd to remind the public why they once saw him as the next big thing. Tim Graveney