Crystal Palace were hoping for a fast start to life under Sam Allardyce, and Watford were caught somewhat still in the traps after two players were forced off inside 14 minutes at Vicarage Road.
Daryl Janmaat lasted barely five minutes after the Dutch full-back appeared to pull his hamstring in his first duel down the right with Wilfried Zaha.
The 27-year-old was replaced by Colombian wing-back Juan Zuniga in a like-for-like change after a lengthy delay, but it wasn't the end of manager Walter Mazzarri's woes inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Valon Behrami went down clutching his left hamstring less than 10 minutes later, and the Switzerland international was unable to continue as striker Troy Deeney took his place in a tactical change for the Hornets.