Watford boss Walter Mazzarri was angry over the manner of defeat at Crystal Palace.

Troy Deeney headed a second-half own goal that secured three vital points and lifted Palace to 16th.

Mazzarri complained Palace's goal should not have stood, because he felt Luke Milivojevic had fouled M'Baye Niang in the build-up to the free-kick from which the hosts scored, but he defended Deeney's game-changing contribution.

"We were not lucky at all," said the 55-year-old Italian. "There was a foul on Niang just before the goal, which means that we were with 10 men when they scored. It was also at the moment when we were doing our best.

"In my opinion the game should have ended 0-0.

"It's an own goal; this can happen. He shouldn't apologise for this. I don't think he's happy, but it was an unlucky day: he ran and gave everything for the team so he shouldn't apologise, it was unlucky."