Crystal Palace have reacted angrily to accusations by Watford midfielder Matthew Spring that the Eagles failed to take the Hornets seriously in the play-off semi-final first leg.

Spring scored the third goal in Watford's 3-0 romp at Selhurst Park on Saturday which left Palace a near impossible task to progress through to the play-off final in Cardiff.

The midfielder felt one of the reasons why the Eagles fell to such a bad defeat was because they did not take Watford seriously, something Palace boss Iain Dowie angrily denied.

"If you read my programme notes for the game I paid ultimate respect to them," said Dowie. "That's absolute gobbledegook.

"I make a point that nobody at this club should disrespect any other teams. You know how hard this job is, one as a manager, and two as a professional footballer, so we are never disrespectful."

Meanwhile Dowie also revealed what chairman Simon Jordan said to the Palace players in the dressing room after the capitulation.

Dowie added: "He felt there wasn't enough spirit about the place and no spirit in the second half performance after the second goal.

"Whatever you say about him, he is very passionate about the club. He will be hurting as much as anyone."