Watford hammer Palace in playoff first leg

LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) Watford look certain to be in the promotion playoff final after thumping Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park in the first leg of their semi-final today.

Second-half goals by Marlon King, Ashley Young and Matthew Spring put Watford in command of a tie whose winners face either Leeds United or Preston North End for a place among the Premier League elite next season.

King held off his marker and fired a low shot in off the post to put Watford ahead a minute into the second half and midfielder Young's curled free kick after 62 minutes doubled their advantage.

Spring then danced through the Palace defence and crashed in the third four minutes from time.

Palace, who finished sixth in the second division to Watford's third, had the better chances in the first half, with strikers Andy Johnson and Clinton Morrison sending shots narrowly wide.

The return leg at Watford is on Tuesday. Preston held Leeds 1-1 at Elland Road yesterday in the first leg of their semi-final. The playoff final takes place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 21.

REUTERS PG PM1926