Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford (AET): Phillips penalty gives Eagles victory in Championship Play-Off final at Wembley

The veteran striker made no mistake from 12 yards after 105 minutes of goal-less stalemate to guarantee the Eagles a guaranteed £120 million over the next four years, money which will completely transform the SE25 side.

The Eagles were unchanged from the side which started at Brighton a fortnight ago, which meant winger Yannick Bolasie was again named on the bench.

Damien Delaney had to make a crucial early interception to deny Daniel Pudil as he burst through on goal inside the opening minute.

Aaron Wilbraham saw a shot blocked by Marco Casetti moments before Wilfried Zaha’s trickery took him into the box but he was unable to control the ball and it went behind for a goal-kick.

Joel Ekstrand picked up a 10th minute yellow card for a late challenge on Wilbraham.

Mile Jedinak made a timely intervention to prevent Almen Abdi getting in a shot on goal at the expense of a corner.

Palace suffered an early blow when Kagisho Dikgacoi was forced off through injury on 17 minutes and replaced by Stuart O’Keefe.

Zaha again burst through on the right and picked out Owen Garvan but his shot was blocked by a Hornets defender.

Jedinak went into the book in the 28th minute for taking out Abdi with his arm and the Eagles skipper was perhaps fortunate moments later another arm-led challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah went unpunished.

Delaney threw himself in the way to prevent Matej Vydra testing Julian Speroni at the expense of a corner.

Jonny Williams took a tumble just outside of the area, although the fact even he didn’t appeal for a free-kick showed the referee’s decision not to blow his whistle was the correct one.

Ikechi Anya’s ambitious 20-yard volley flew over two minutes before the interval but there was nothing to separate the two sides at the break, with neither keeper tested during the first half.

Watford top scorer Vydra didn’t emerge for the start of the second half and was replaced by Alex Geijo.

Chalobah’s 48th minute long range effort was never going to trouble Speroni in the Palace goal and Delaney stuck out a boot one minute later to block Abdi’s shot.

Wilbraham’s 53rd minute shot on the turn was blocked after Garvan’s free-kick had been knocked into his path.

Palace’s defence stood off Geijo as he went on a forward run but his eventual shot from outside of the area lacked power and sailed harmlessly through to Speroni.

Wilbraham should have done a lot better when he beat the offside trap but his eventual shot was saved by Manuel Almunia with what was clearly the best chance of the game so far.

Delaney headed a 61st minute free-kick across the face of goal but it was nowhere near to picking out Wilbraham, the only other Palace player in the box.

Speroni came out quickly to gather at the feet of Geijo after the Hornets substitute had played the ball just too far forward.

O’Keefe was picked out by Zaha and his shot was well saved by Almunia, who also reacted quickly to deny Wilbraham as Palace began to exert some real pressure.

The Watford keeper then made a hash of a corner and was fortunate no Eagles player was able to punish the mistake.

By now experienced striker Phillips had entered the fray to play in his fourth play-off final having come on in place of Williams.

Garvan’s angled volley from inside of the area was always going off target and the Irishman went a bit closer with another effort 10 minutes from time, although it went straight at Almunia.

Wilbram had another glorious opportunity when found by Zaha inside the box, but his low shot was saved by the Hornets keeper.

Ian Holloway made his third and final change six minutes from the end of normal time by taking off Garvan and introducing Andre Moritz.

Troy Deeney’s 89th minute scissor kick flew harmlessly over and then he scuffed a low drive from 20 yards well wide after threatening to burst through on goal.

Zaha won a stoppage time corner, from which Jedinak headed straight at Almunia and the game went into extra-time.

Only the quick thinking of Speroni denied Deeney what looked a certain goal three minutes after the restart after the Watford striker had cleverly got in in front of Joel ward to meet a cross.

Substitute Fernando Forestieri fired into the side-netting two minutes later and Christian Battocchio, also a sub, saw a long range effort caught by speroni.

Delaney had a decent crack at goal from 20 yards before Palace won a penalty at the end of the first half of extra-time after Zaha was felled in the box by Cassetti.

Up stepped Phillips to take the spot-kick and the former Hornets player smashed his effort past Almunia, giving the former Arsenal keeper no chance.

Watford were awarded a free-kick midway through the second period in a dangerous position 25 yards goal but Abdi’s effort went straight to Speroni.

Joel Ekstrand’s 118th minute effort was blocked by Ward and the follow up effort volleyed over, with Watford appealing in vain for a penalty.

And it was Ward who came to Palace’s rescue at the death, heading Forestieri’s curling shot off the line with Speroni beaten.

That prevented the agony of a penalty shootout and ensured it is Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton the Eagles will be playing next season as opposed to Yeovil, Doncaster and Barnsley.

Premier League football is heading back to south London.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi (O’Keefe 17), Garvan (Moritz 84), Williams (Phillips 65), Zaha, Wilbraham. Subs not used: Price, Richards, Ramage, Bolasie. Att: 82,025.

REACTION:

Crystal Palace manager, Ian Holloway:

"I knew it could go either way and that we had to be at our best. It looked like we had missed some chances.

"I am just so pleased. The injury rocked us, but Wilf's run for the penalty, and it was a penalty, was that moment of magic.

"I am going to enjoy tonight, have a break and enjoy the moment. I am shattered.

"You try and stop KP [Kevin Phillips] taking that penalty, I'll keep signing him as long as I can. He is out of contract at Blackpool.

"KP's enthusiasm, his little spark - I am delighted for him. It is the first time he has won in the play-off.

"Everyone wrote us off, no one gave us a chance. There was only one team going to win at Brighton, no one believed we would do it.

"I don't know how we will do in the Premier League, we just have to look forward to it.

"I am not as emotional as normal. But when we kick off next year the hard work starts - we're on a hiding to nothing. I want to make sure we learn and compete.

"I am only 50, and as managers go that is quite young. I am always learning, adapting.

"If you don't stay up, the Premier League boys are like vultures, they take your best players.

"How much you spend on players is not always a good sign - it is what they have in their heart that matters.

"To me the players are Palace heroes."