Troy Deeney has admitted Watford players 'take it in turns' to kick Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha and also believes he can influence referees by using the forward's words against him.

Zaha recently called for more protection from referees after growing tired of the rough treatment dished out to him by Premier League defenders.

And his suspicions appear to have been confirmed by Deeney, who revealed Watford came up with a specific plan to take it in turns to foul him to make sure no one got sent off.

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Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha was specifically targeted by Watford players earlier this season

Troy Deeney admitted Watford players fouled him in rotation to make sure no one was sent off

ZAHA THIS SEASON Apps: Five Goals: Three Assists: 0 Shots taken: 12 Fouls won: 14 Stats from Premier League 2018-19 Advertisement

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Deeney said: 'You take it in turns kicking him. I know no one wants to hear that, but you go; "You hit this time, you hit him the next time", you don't have the same player tackle him because you know you're gonna get booked.'

Watford beat Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road earlier this season, winning 2-1 with Zaha scoring what would turn out to be a consolation goal.

He scored despite being on the end of several rough challenges, including one from Etienne Capoue, who appeared to rake his boot down Zaha's achilles.

The Ivory Coast international came out in a blaze of fury following another rough experience against Huddersfield and said he feared for his safety unless referees offered him more protection.

Zaha lamented: 'I know that for a fact [opponents are out there to hurt me] but I just don't know what to do anymore.

'I end up arguing with referees because today the guy studded me in my shin - do they need to break my leg before anyone gets a red card?'

Zaha spoke of his fear that a defender would overstep the mark and break his leg in a match

However, Zaha has also been accused of simulation in the past and Deeney believes he could use the Crystal Palace forward's words against him in order to get into the referee's head.

Deeney continued: 'You can flip it and start being more psychological with the referees.

'If we were playing him this week and he'd just said those comments I'd have been like: "Ref, don't you be the first one to give him a pen. Don't you start going easy on him".

'You want to say to him (the ref) in that little meeting we have an hour and a half before kick-off; "Do you want to be the first one to give him a penalty for diving?"'