Matches against Crystal Palace hold mixed memories for Almen Abdi.

He enjoyed a goalscoring league debut for Watford in their 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the 2012/13 Championship campaign, netted again in the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture and then featured again against the Eagles as that season ended in Play-Off Final disappointment against at Wembley Stadium.

Sunday will be the first time the two sides have met since Ian Holloway’s side gained promotion to the top tier on that day and current Palace boss Alan Pardew suggested earlier today that Watford could have an “extra incentive” due to their 1-0 Wembley defeat. But the Swiss midfielder played down any talk of seeking to avenge that loss when he spoke to the media this afternoon.

“No, that’s now over two years ago,” he said. “Obviously we didn’t have our best game so we didn’t deserve to go to the Premier League, it’s as easy as that. We had a great season but in this game we were not at our best.”

Both Watford and Palace go into Sunday’s game with nine points to their name; Pardew’s men sitting two places higher in the table courtesy of a superior goal difference of plus one.

Abdi is pleased with how the Hornets are adapting to life in the top flight but acknowledged they will face a tough test at the weekend against a side who may have lost three league games to date, but have already gone to champions Chelsea and won this season.

Asked how he felt Watford had settled into the Premier League, Abdi replied: “I think very good until now. Obviously we are a newly promoted team in the Premier League and it took a little bit of time because we have many new players but I think we are doing a great job.

“We’ve only got beaten by Manchester City. I think you can lose there. And the rest, I think the most important thing is for us is to compete against the other teams which we have and especially the last two games I think we deserved to win. It gives us a very good feeling.”

The 28-year-old has been utilised in a wider midfield berth by Quique Sanchez Flores and said he is “very much” enjoying the challenge of playing at the top level of the domestic game.

“It was always my dream to play in the Premier League with Watford and we worked very hard for three years to be here and now we just have to make sure that we enjoy it,” he continued. “In six games to have nine points is really not bad and now it’s another big game for us against Crystal Palace on Sunday. It will be a very, very tough game.”