Burnley 2 v 0 Watford (FA Premier League)
The Sky Sports camera’s were not the only visitors to Turf Moor this evening as the Clarets entertained Watford in the FA Premier League, as Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane was also in the stands watching some of the Ireland players.
Sean Dyche kept the same 4-5-1 formation that lost the previous Saturday, however he made two changes to the starting line-up with Sam Vokes and Johan Gudmundsson in for the suspended Andre Gray and Scott Arfield who dropped to the bench.
Burnley started the stronger of the two teams and had their first attempt on goal after nine minutes, when Johan Gudmundsson found space on the right-wing and wiped in an excellent cross which was met by Sam Vokes, but his header was blocked by Cathcart and went for a corner.
From the resulting corner Michael Keane headed the ball down to George boyd and from the right-hand side of the box Boyd hit an excellent left-footed shot which Gomes tipped over the crossbar when the ball was heading towards the top corner of the goal.
On twenty-four minutes, Icelandic international Johan Berg Gudmundsson collected the ball from Matt Lowton on the right-wing before cutting inside to the edge of the box and hitting a left-footed shot which went just wide.
Just two minutes later José Holebas went close with a left footed shot from outside the box which went just wide of Heaton’s goal following an excellent assist from Etienne Capoue.
Johan Berg Gudmundsson again went close on thirty-seven minutes with another left-footed shot from the edge of the box, which went just wide of Gomes left-hand post.
Burnley took the lead on thirty-eight minutes follwoing a corner by Steven Defour which found Jeff Hendrick in the six yard box and his header from the middle of the area left Gomes with no chance to make it 1-0 to the Clarets.
The final effort of the half fell to Watford when a Roberto Pereyra cross found Odion Ighalo in the middle of the Burnley area, but his header was well saved by Tom Heaton low down to his left-hand side to make give the Clarets a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Watford started the second half well and put the home side under some pressure in the opening five minutes. It was the visitors who had the first attempt of the half when Troy Deeley hit a right-footed shot inside the area which was well saved by Tom Heaton.
Burnley extended their lead on fifty minutes following another excellent corner from Steven Defour, his cross found Michael Keane in the middle of the box and his header went passed Gomes into the corner to make the score 2-0.
Just after the hour, man of the match Steven Defour hit a right-footed shot from the edge of the Watford box which was well saved by Gomes to his right-hand side. A minutes later Defour played in Sam Vokes but the striker was just off-side as he looked to add a third.
On sixty-three minutes, following a Roberto Pereyra cross Troy Deeley headed the ball wide of Tom Heaton’s goal. A minute later José Holebas had another chance for the hornets but his left footed shot from outside the box was blocked by Ben Mee.
Watford should have pulled a goal back on Eight-three minutes when Isaac Success collected the ball on the left wing and the cutting inside the area along the by-line before getting into the six yard box and hitting a right footed shot from a difficult angle which was turned behind by heaton for a corner.
Isaac Success had a final effort in injury time which went wide to make the full time score 2-0 to Burnley with Steven Defour collecting the Man of the Match award. The Clarets have moved to thirteeth in the league with Arsenal set to visit Turf Moor on Sunday.
Speaking after the match Burnley manager Sean Dyche said, “It was really pleasing tonight, especially the manner and control of the performance throughout the whole game. We handled their threat really well and it’s very satisfying.
We believe in the players here and I mentioned the flexibility we need, so it was a decision from me to go as we did. There were big parts of the game when I thought we were decent and we just didn’t look a threat in the final third. I felt we added to that tonight by getting into wider areas quicker and some of the deliveries were excellent.
I wanted this idea of focus and freedom and some of the passing and movement was excellent. It was a controlled performance and at this level, that’s not easy to do, so I was pleased with that.”
Match Details
Burnley – Heaton, Lowton, Ward, Keane, Mee, Marney, Defour, Hendrick, Gudmundsson, Boyd, Vokes (Subs) Robinson, Flanagan, Kightly, Bamford, Tarkowski, Arfield, O’Neill
Watford – Gomes, Amrabat, Cathcart, Prodl, Britos, Holebas, Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue, Ighalo, Deeney (Subs) Pantilimon, Kaboul, Success, Kenedy, Guedioura, Zuniga,Watson
Goals – (Burnley) Hendrick (38), Keane (50)
Attendance – 18,519
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