Roy Hodgson has explained his decision not to acknowledge the Watford fans at full time after they were relegated with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

The Hornets' boss received a warm ovation from his former club's supporters after the match, and reciproacted their affection with applause of his own.

However, he said that the visiting fans were "a bit too far away" for him to go over and thank them for their efforts, as they travelled to South London, only to see their side confirm their demotion to the Championship.

"Unfortunately they were a bit too far away," he said when asked why he didn't go over to them at full time.

"Normally I would acknowledge the Watford fans, but they were unfortunately on the far corner and I was being dragged, if you like, towards the towards the tunnel by one or two of the Palace players. 

"I suppose in hindsight, you're probably right. But Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But the Watford fans were very good, I've got to say I was very impressed with them today and I was impressed with them last week as well for that matter because they also are not stupid people.

"They also realised that probably this was going to be curtains for us and yet still they cheered us on and even had some gallows humour."

Asked if he had a message for the fans, he said: "I thought they were very good. I think they're realistic too.

"I think they've probably been feeling low all week and yet still they showed character today. They came here with even a bit of gallows humour and they cheered the team on by the way throughout, so I think they deserve an awful lot of credit.

"They were never going to out-shout the Palace fans because there's so many more of them, I thought they were very good in our last home game and I don't think the players or the club can have anything other than respect and admiration for the way these fans have tried to get behind the team. They've tried to keep the team going through a difficult season when really right the way through [the season] we've been looking up the table and never down the table."