Deeney Strike Completes Stunning Comeback

Watford completed a stunning turn around at Vicarage Road as they came back from 2-0 down to win their first game for 3 matches.

The Hornets made four changes from last weeks defeat to Southampton with Lee Hodson, Prince Buaben, Sean Murray and Joe Garner coming in to replace Carl Dickinson, Mark Yeates, Alex Kacaniklic and Marcello Trotta.

The Hornets made a bright start to the game and forced a succession of early corners but couldn’t make them count. They were presented with a golden chance early on when a poor defensive header put Troy Deeney in the clear but he could not beat Lee Grant in the Burnley goal.

The Hornets, clearly still reeling from the seven goals conceded in their two previous games, found it difficult to control the game from the onwards with a packed centre midfield offering little width. Burnley were able to take advantage but without creating much of note to worry Tomask Kuszczak in goal.

Watford did respond towards the end of the first half and Prince Buaben nearly put the Hornets in front when he shot from the edge of the area but Grant produced a fine save to keep things level.

Just as Watford were having their best spell of the first half Burnley scored. A long ball forward caused chaos in the Watford defence and Adrian Mariappa sold Kuszczak woefully short with a header back to him and Jay Rodriguez ran through and scored.

Half Time: 0-1

Burnley doubled their lead with the first real attack of the second half to put themselves in control of the match. A free kick by the corner flag was whipped in Ross Wallace and under pressure from Ben Mee, Nyron Nosworthy turned into his own net.

Watford dusted themselves down quickly and halved the deficit just four minutes later. Nyron Nosworthy hadn’t scored for eight years but got two in five minutes at either end as he met Sean Murray’s corner at the back post to head home.

Watford came close to making it 2-2 just moments later. Another corner, this time fron half-time substitute Alex Kacaniklic, was headed up in the air Nosworthy drove the ball back through the crowd of players but Grant pulled off a fine save.

At this stage Watford were in the battle if not producing the quality of final ball. Burnley still looked dangerous on the break as Watford pushed forward with Ross Wallace and Jay Rodriguez particularly menacing.

However, Watford did produce a piece of quality for an equalising goal after 71 minutes, Kacanklic’s first strike in a Watford shirt. Neat build up from Watford saw Joe Garner flick the ball through to Kacaniklic who drilled the ball past Grant into the far corner from a tight angle.

By this time Watford’s tails were up and winner followed just three minutes later. Burnley failed to deal with another Sean Murray corner and after Garner’s effort was blocked Troy Deeney forced the ball over the line.

In the final fifteen minutes Burnley tried to pile the pressure on Watford. Kuszczak made a fine save from substitute Martin Paterson and Lloyd Doyley made a superb block from Chris McCann when he found himself in space at the back post.

Despite a ridiculous five minutes of added time from a referee who was poor for both sides all afternoon, the Hornets held on for another vital three points after an entertaining second half. Watford produced a will to win if not quality that saw them over the line. Evidence on show none more so than when Garner and Eustace literally threw their bodies in the way of Burnley balls into the box later on.

Full Time: 3-2

Watford: Kuszczak, Hodson, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Doyley, Murray (Bennett), Hogg, Eustace, Buaben (Kacaniklic), Garner, Deeney
Not Used: Loach (GK), Iwelumo, Trotta

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Edgar, Mee, Duff (Easton), Wallace, McCann, Marney, McQuoid (Ings), Austin (Paterson), Rodriguez