Jobi McAnuff played down the second-half scuffle that provided the main talking point of Watford’s season opener against Crystal Palace yesterday.

Tempers flared following a poorly-timed tackle by Lee Williamson just after the hour mark and four burly security guards entered the field of play to separate to the two sets of players.

Williamson was yellow carded for his part in proceedings while Palace skipper Shaun Derry was also cautioned following an altercation with John Harley.

The incident evoked memories of the touchline spat between Aidy Boothroyd and Fitz Hall, the then Palace defender, in May 2006.

“It was much a do about nothing really,” said McAnuff. “Both team steamed in to make sure everything was alright. It was handbags, really. It was a pretty fiery game and everyone wants to do well.”

McAnuff was particularly keen to perform well on his return to Selhurst Park and he wasted two good chances to garnish a sprightly performance with a goal.

“I enjoyed playing here,” said McAnuff who joined the Hornets from Palace for £1.75m last summer.

“It was good to come back and with a bit better finishing, I could have got a goal. I didn’t quite catch either chance to be honest. I did the hard bit by getting in those positions. But I enjoyed getting on the ball more and this formation helps me. It’s a positive attacking formation.”

Added McAnuff: “There have been a lot of things happening over the summer, a lot of players going and lot of things happening off the field but it's up to us to ignore that. It was good display and we could have nicked it really. The spirit is very good, as we showed today. We need to be together this year as we have lost some big characters and some big players.”