An away tie at Watford was hardly the dream draw many Crystal Palace fans were hoping for in the FA Cup fourth round.

After Saturday’s dull goalless draw at the Walkers Stadium against Leicester, Eagles fans would have been hoping for trips to one of the big Premiership four or even another chance to humiliate Liverpool in the cup at Selhurst.

However, yet another visit to Vicarage Road does not exactly set the tail wagging, nor will it give the players an added incentive to win the replay, but it does provide the chance for Palace to put a cup run together.

Of course the Eagles must get past Leicester first and if they are to do that they must play better than they did on Saturday.

While the defence was solid and restricted and unimpressive Leicester side to one good chance and one half chance, Palace mustered just two shots on target themselves that never really troubled David Martin’s goal.

Alan Lee was too isolated up front and though he constantly got his head to the long balls, too often there was no one near him to collect the flick-ons and the defence cleared.

It was strange to see Palace reverting back to type with the long balls after playing some attractive football in the last two months and the slight dip in form is reminiscent of the six game winless streak they went on last February after Leicester ended their 15-game unbeaten run.

In that time the Eagles played some truly dreadful football and with Bristol City having ending their latest good streak of form, there are worrying signs that it could be happening again.