Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford: Conor Wickham heads Eagles into first FA Cup final since 1990 after Troy Deeney had cancelled out Yannick Bolasie opener at Wembley

With one giant leap and one classic centre-forward’s header, Connor Wickham turned back FA Cup time to the days when Kylie Minogue was at No.1 and Margaret Thatcher was at No.10.

Wickham’s struck early in the second-half to punish Watford and booked Crystal Palace into their first FA Cup final since 1990.

They will return to Wembley on May 21 to face the same opponents they did 26 years ago, with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal hoping victory will secure his personal future as it did for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Connor Wickham of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with a header during the Emirates FA Cup semi-final

Pape Souare took the ball on the left and crossed for Wickham to rise high and power a header past Watford goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon

The goal secured a 2-1 semi-final victory over Watford at Wembley and ending the Eagles' 26-year wait for an FA Cup final in the process

Crystal Palace winger Bakary Sako enjoyed the moment with his team-mates in the dressing room after the side reached the FA Cup final

For Alan Pardew, there will be the chance to avenge that defeat and finally get his hands on the Cup which has twice eluded him by a matter of seconds, and finish his first full season as Palace manager by winning their first major trophy.

Pardew could not keep the smile from his face at Wembley and celebrated Wickham’s goal with a sweeping salute to the fans.

After a fabulous start to his tenure at Selhurst Park, he has endured a gruelling winter, when injuries ate into his squad and form vanished, he can become the club’s first manager to win a major trophy.

Yannick Bolasie gave them the lead in the sixth minute. Troy Deeney levelled soon after the interval, but Wickham’s winner crushed Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores.

Flores’ players collapsed on the turf; exhausted and dejected, a campaign which promised so much has fizzled out.

They are set to survive in the Premier League, which is itself an admirable achievement, but perhaps he promised too much because his job is under threat as owner Gino Pozzo considers another managerial change.

At Wembley, Watford were never at their best. In truth, they rarely have been since winning the quarter-final at Arsenal.

In the second-half, when offered greater threat with a more direct style but Palace controlled almost the entire game. They were quicker to hit their stride and Bolasie’s early goal gave them the edge.

A corner taken by Yohan Cabaye was flicked on by Damien Delaney and Bolasie sprang high at the back-post to nod it over the line from close range, despite the kung-fu efforts of Deeney and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

The near-post corner routine echoed Pardew’s famous extra-time winner in the 1990 semi-final against Liverpool.

That was the final act of a classic, but Bolasie’s goal had the strange effect of stifling the first-half. Palace closed ranks and sought to inflict damage on the counter-attack while Watford took few risks and created next to nothing.

Yohan Cabaye's corner was flicked on at the near post by Damien Delaney and headed down and in by Yannick Bolasie (2nd left)

Bolasie celebrates as he scores Crystal Palace's first goal during the FA Cup semi-final against Watford at Wembley

Bolasie runs over to celebrate the goal with Palace manager Alan Pardew (left) after he gave his team the perfect start to the clash

Watford's Etienne Capoue had to be stretchered off after damaging his knee in an off the ball collision with another player

Deeney and Odio Ighalo, so prolific earlier in the season, were subdued by Delaney and Scott Dann.

The closest Watford came in the first-half was when Palace full-back Joel Ward misjudged a bouncing cross, which zipped off the turf, struck him in the shins and went behind, dangerously close to his own goal.

Flores was not helped by losing Etienne Capoue to injury. Midfielder Capoue, who had been the pick of his players during the first half-hour, hurt his left knee in an off-the-ball collision with Bolasie.

He tried to continue but was carried off and replaced by Mario Suarez. The pattern did not change.

In Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha, Palace boast two dangerous wingers, with pace and strength. Bolasie always looks capable of goals, while Zaha looks likely to win penalties, with his jinking dribbles.

Jason Puncheon (right) and Bolasie both continued to make life tough for Watford's full-backs on the counter attack

Palace were denied a penalty Miguel Britos got the wrong side of Conor Wickham and the striker got past him before being chopped down 

Jurado's cross from the left found Ighalo but the striker couldn't get enough power on his header to trouble the Palace goalkeeper

He revelled in Wembley’s open spaces must be relishing the prospect of an FA Cup final against Manchester United, where he spent two years but appeared only twice.

Zaha finished the first-half one of his purple patches, tormenting Nathan Ake with his twists and tricks. Palace thought they deserved a penalty when one of his crosses smacked into Ake’s left-hand.

Referee Craig Pawson ignored the claims, just as he did soon after the interval when Wickham was tripped by Miguel Britos as he charged into the penalty area.

From the outset, the second-half was quicker and more entertaining than the first.

Bolasie embarked on a terrific run down the left-wing. He went past Britos and made himself a yard on Craig Cathcart before shooting low from a tight angle. Pantilimon was able to save with his legs.

Watford's striking duo Troy Deeney (2nd right) and Odion Ighalo (centre) were isolated for the majority of the first half

Deeney (No 9) got ahead of Scott Dann to head home the equaliser from Jose Manuel Jurado's in-swinging corner

Deeney of celebrates scoring Watford's equalising goal shortly into the second half of the FA Cup semi-final

Watford thoroughly deserved to get their equaliser having looked a much better team after the break than they did in the first half

Watford equalised from a corner by Jose Manuel Jurado. Deeney muscled past his former Walsall team-mate Scott Dann and thumped a powerful header beyond Wayne Hennessey, before an extended celebration. Wembley burst into life at last.

Deeney is an honest character who has been on an epic personal journey to reach this point in his career and he leads his team with the full range of emotions on display.

His jubilation soon turned to despair when Palace restored their lead, and the Watford captain became engaged in an animated discussion with right-back Nyom about who might be to blame.

The cross had been whipped-in from Nyom’s flank by Papa Souare. It sailed deep to Wickham who climbed easily above Ake to produce a wonderful header.

Ighalo shoots past Scott Dann of Crystal Palace as Watford pushed in search of a late equaliser that never materialised

Pardew's team will face Manchester United, as they did 26 years ago, with Louis van Gaal hoping the trophy will secure his future

It arrowed back across the goal from whence it came and bounced inside the post. His sixth goal for the club he joined last year from Sunderland justified the decision to start him ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor.

There were moments of alarm at both ends of the pitch. Pardew’s defensive unit deserve credit, however, for closing out the game with minimum fuss. They limited Watford to half-chances and rarely exposed ‘keeper Hennessey.

Suarez had a shot blocked and Deeney was unable to turn a header on target. Jurado attempted a half-volley from 25-yards but did not catch it sweetly and it was comfortably saved.

Perhaps the best chance fell to Ighalo, eight minutes from time. Deeney flicked a long-ball into his path. It was not easy but precisely the sort of opportunity the Nigerian was finishing during the first half of the season.

Unfortunately, he is a little less lethal at the moment. He latched onto the flick but could not keep it down. As it disappeared over the bar, so did Watford’s hopes of rescuing their dream.

This day belonged to Crystal Palace.