For once, this was a game I arrived at with a slight sense of optimism – after all, we have a recently-developed habit of selfishly taking 6 points off Watford each season. But then I temporarily forgot who I supported. It’s been said before – this IS Burnley we’re talking about.
A dismal day with the threat of rain saw the teams line up thus:
Watford: Chamberlain, Doyley, Cox, Gayle, Robinson, Ardley, Hyde, Hand, Pennant, Smith, Helguson.
Burnley: Beresford, West, McGregor, Gnohere, Branch, Little, Weller, Grant, A Moore, I Moore, Blake.
Watford kick off, and Burnley start the match shooting towards us in the away end. Ian Moore is promptly fouled, and for some reason Chamberlain is awarded a free kick. After a spell of continuous heading (keep it on the ground!), Little is fouled and Watford gain another free kick. I’m starting to get a rather nasty feeling about this referee, and the game’s only just started.
Burnley seem to have a slightly larger percentage of play until Branch decides to return to the old form that earned him a lot of stick from the fans, and kicks the ball out of play – it was going out anyway, courtesy of a Watford player.
It’s turning out to be a rather scrappy affair with neither side really giving the keepers much to do – and the home fans are pitiful. Maybe it’s because the Watford songs haven’t been printed in the programme this year.
Watford have the first real chance of the game with Smith running at the Burnley defence, but he is crowded out in the box and Gnohere blocks his shot. This shakes the Clarets out of their daze and they start putting some effort into the game, with Grant shooting from the edge of the box from Blake’s flick, but Chamberlain easily saves this attempt.
Gnohere is booked for an alleged handball just outside the box, but Beresford easily claims the cross. A Moore then has a shot but it goes just wide when I Moore is just unable to reach it. Soon after there is a repeat of this, but I Moore again just can’t get there. Soon after, Burnley get their first corner, but McGregor heads behind. Robinson’s elbow decides to become better acquainted with Little’s ear, but this goes unnoticed.
Gnohere again rescues Burnley on the half-hour mark, from Smith’s shot, and following a Burnley corner, Chamberlain drops the ball. He recovers before I Moore has time to react.
Helguson is then booked for diving (he isn’t happy with that decision), and on 38 minutes Beresford is forced to save from Hyde, though the Hornets player shoots straight at him.
Watford score in the 39th minute. Pennant crosses and Helguson heads home powerfully from the left. 1-0.
Little is booked on 41 minutes (only the referee seems to know why). 3 minutes are added to the end of the first half, during which I Moore comes painfully close to converting an A Moore cross, but I can only conclude that he needs to have bigger feet. Blake has been unimpressive and we miss Davis’ strong presence.
Half time: Watford 1 Burnley 0
Burnley kick off the second half, but Watford are quicker to the ball, and Gayle (who all the home fans wanted out of the club when we won here last season) heads over from Ardley’s cross. They come close again soon after when Smith takes advantage of a poor pass from Little. He rounds McGregor and passes to Pennant, whose shot is blocked. Hyde misses the rebound.
Stan decides he needs change in the team, and in the 52nd minute Taylor and Papa replace Blake and I Moore.
Watford then have a goal which is ruled out for offside, though it takes a while for the celebrating Helguson to realise. Hyde and Smith were both offside. Burnley haven’t given up yet and Taylor’s shot is somehow saved by Chamberlain and cleared by Cox. Papa heads over from the subsequent corner.
Watford earn a penalty in the 70th minute when McGregor is adjudged to have hauled Smith down in the box. Smith duly puts away the penalty after McGregor is dismissed. Having since spent a good ten minutes watching that incident on the Monday night highlights, it wasn’t a penalty. Smith was miles offside, and he tripped McGregor, who fell, and then Smith fell over McGregor. Incompetent linesman.
Most teams when 2-0 down and with only 10 men on the field simply give up. Burnley don’t and look more dangerous than with 11 men! Little goes on a run and passes to Papa, who is very close to goal, but Papa shoots just wide.
But the pressure pays off in the 75th minute. Papa has a header cleared off the line by Cox, but the ball falls straight to Taylor, who puts a diving header past a stranded Chamberlain. 1-2! It feels like there may be a chance of getting a draw out of this game, with the way Burnley are pressuring the home side.
Gnohere has a shot from 25 yards in the 80th minute with a chip, but it goes just too high.
Five minutes are added, but Watford hold on to finally get a victory over Burnley.
Full time: Watford 2 Burnley 1
Subs not used: Cox, Maylett.
Scorers: (Watford) Helguson 40, Tommy Smith 72 (pen) / (Burnley) Taylor 76.
Attendance: 13,977.
Referee: R Olivier (Sutton Coldfield).
Katherine's man of the match: Gareth Taylor (simply because he scored).
Hornets sting us at last