WATFORD are just 90 minutes away from securing a place in the Premiership after they held Crystal Palace to a goalless draw in a full-blooded affair at Vicarage Road on Tuesday, May 9.

In front of a throbbing crowd of 19,041, the Hornets successfully protected the three-goal advantage they earned in memorable fashion at Selhurst Park and they will now meet Leeds in the Play-off Final in Cardiff.

The second-leg tie, however, will be remembered for an amazing touchline bust-up just after the hour mark that saw manager Adrian Boothroyd sent to the stands after he became involved in a spat with Fitz Hall.

Hall was angered at Boothroyd's reluctance to give him the ball at a throw in and the pair appeared to trade blows before players from both sides became involved in an ugly incident.

That overshadowed an otherwise thoroughly professional performance from the Hornets. They managed to keep the visitors largely at arms length and threatened on the counter-attack through Marlon King who was a livewire throughout.

Having seen a five-man midfield work to such devastating effect in the second-half at Selhurst Park, Boothroyd stuck with the same formation that enabled Watford to open up their first leg advantage. This meant Al Bangura started at the expense of Darius Henderson, who dropped to the bench.

Iain Dowie, not surprisingly, decided to make changes and there were three differences in personnel from the first leg. In came Gary Borrowdale, Mikele Leigertwood and Dougie Freedman at the expense of Ben Watson, who was on the bench, but former Hornet Darren Ward and, surprisingly bearing in mind Palace's plight, Clinton Morrison were the left out of the 16.

Watford looked threatening on the counter-attack but it was Palace who got the first sight of goal on 12 minutes. A long throw from Hall was flicked into the path of Jobi McAnuff by Tony Popovic but the former Cardiff midfielder sent his effort high over the bar from 12 yards out.

With Matt Spring lying down injured after a robust challenge from Tom Soares, Palace again threatened the Watford goal when Freedman's deft pass sent Andrew Johnson through the heart of the defence. His pace took him clear of Jay DeMerit and Malkay Mackay but Ben Foster was quick off his line to clear the danger.

The home crowd came to life on 24 minutes though. Ashley Young was involved three times in a passage of play that ended with the home-grown youngster firing left-footed over the crossbar from six yards after a Gavin Mahon cross had found him at the back post.

However, there was another anxious moment in the Hornets box on 34 minutes when Foster just managed to beat Popovic to a cross from Emmerson Boyce.

Foster was called into action again soon after when he made a routine save low to his right to smother a deflected snap-shot from McAnuff.

The Watford fans were out of their seats on 40 minutes when King burst clear after profiting from a slip by Popovic, but Hall got back well to smother the danger.

Just 60 seconds after receiving the first caution of the evening, Al Bangura tripped Michael Hughes on the edge of the box, handing Palace a free-kick in a dangerous position. Johnson crashed the free-kick into the wall and then Mackay threw himself at the feet of Freedman to keep the Eagles at bay.

With his side needing three goals just to send the match into extra-time, Dowie replaced Hughes with Watson at half-time.

And it was the substitute who was involved in the move that ended with Soares dragging a right-footed shot wide of Foster's right-hand post on 49 minutes.

With Palace receiving little change out of an excellent Watford back four, Dowie threw on Jonathan Macken for Freedman.

The match, however, exploded into life just after the hour mark. Hall, the Palace defender, got involved in a heated touchline exchange with Boothroyd, sparking a brawl that involved both sets of players.

Once order had been restored, Hall was shown a yellow card by the referee while Boothroyd was sent to the stands.

The incident brought the crowd to life and they were out of their seats once more when King sent an acrobatic effort just wide of the post from a Jordan Stewart corner.

At the other end, Macken glanced a header inches over the bar after a teasing cross from Borrowdale.

Arguably the best chance of the night fell to King on 78 minutes but Watford's leading scorer saw his effort fall the wrong side of the post after being played in by Spring.

King looked set to add his 22 goals this season when some industrious play from Henderson forced Leigertwood into a mistake inside his own penalty area. But the club's Player of the Year rolled his effort on the turn wide of the post.

However, that was of little consequence to the home faithful who stood as one after the final whistle to acclaim the efforts of their team in ensuring an already memorable season potentially reaches the best climax imaginable promotion to the Premiership.

Watford: Foster; Doyley, DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart; Chambers, Chambers, Spring, Bangura, Mahon, Young; King. Substitutes: Henderson for Chambers after 76 mins; Eagles, McNamee, Mariappa and Chamberlain not used.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly; Boyce, Hall, Popovic, Borrowdale; Soares, Leigertwood, Hughes, McAnuff; Johnson, Freedman. Substitutes: Watson for Hughes after 45 mins; Macken for Freedman after 59 mins; Reich for Popovic after 68 mins; Hudson and Andrews not used.

Bookings: Bangura for a foul on Johnson after 42 mins; Hall for altercation with Boothroyd after 63 mins.

Attendance: 19,041.

Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).