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Today's game is being billed almost as a 'must win' which, given we are currently ninth in the tables, is hardly the case. But, with increased expectation, nothing less than a top six place it seems is acceptable for some.
How close are we to that top six? One point is the answer. If we had one more point we would be in there at the expense of next week's opponents Coventry in a league that it has to be said is very tight right now.
Whilst being just one point short of a top six place we are also only one point above Portsmouth in fourteenth place and that means there is a real scramble right now to get into that top six.
I'm sure if anyone had said we would lose just three times in the opening sixteen games it would have been considered acceptable. Apart from the unbeaten QPR there are no teams with less defeats.
The problem is the wins column and that only shows five. That ratio of wins to games played simply has to improve. Two seasons ago we won 21 league games to win our place in the play offs and you would assume something similar would be required this time. That means we should be around seven wins, if not eight, by now and that means we have some real catching up to do. The current points per game ratio is nowhere near what's required to finish with a top six place.
Every way you look at it we have to start winning more games. Some of the performances in the draws, particularly some recent ones away from home, have been excellent, but we haven't won them putting more pressure on the home games. It's not 'must win' but we really do need to start winning again.
It's been not far short of two years since we last played Watford and much has changed at Vicarage Road since that clash. At that time Aidy Boothroyd had just lost his job and, after a short caretaker spell with Malky Mackay, they had appointed Brendan Rodgers as he began his tour of Championship clubs.
Rodgers moved on at the end of the season, taking the Reading job vacated by Steve Coppell's resignation, and this time they gave the job to Mackay on a permanent basis.
Despite being tipped by some to struggle last season they finished it comfortably in 16th place and were seven points clear of the drop zone.
This season they have just one point less than us and would have an even better return but for some disappointing home form. What they can do though is what we can't do and that's win away from home.
They were the first Championship team to win a game this season. Their opening day fixture at Norwich was brought forward to the Friday night and they won 3-2 with a goal from John Eustace and two from Danny Graham.
They've also won at Bristol City, Millwall and Sheffield United with the 6-1 victory at Millwall the biggest away win recorded in the Championship this season. It's not even been bettered by a home team.
Graham leads the way in terms of goals with seven in the league and his partner, Marvin Sordell, is just one goal behind.
They are the Championship's leading goalscorers on the road and will certainly provide tough opposition this afternoon.
Danny Graham was the big doubt for Watford after suffering an injury in the defeat at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. He's come through though and will definitely take his place in their starting line up today.
There are no other injury concerns for Mackay and he's also able to welcome Don Cowie back into the squad today after injury.
The teams should be similar to the one that played at Crystal Palace and that was: Scott Loach, Lloyd Doyley, Martin Taylor, Adrian Mariappa, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Whichelow, John Eustace, Jordon Mutch, Stephen McGinn, Troy Deeney, Danny Graham. Subs: Rene Gilmartin, Lee Hodson, Josh Walker, Michael Bryan, Dale Bennett, Will Buckley, Marvin Sordell.
Brian Laws has been hit by injuries from the draw with Doncaster on Tuesday. Danny Fox is ruled out with an ankle ligament injury and will be missing for only the second time since he signed for the Clarets back in January of this year.
His deputy will almost certainly be Brian Easton who did well when he stood in for Fox in the win against Barnsley, our last win.
Martin Paterson was forced off at half time with a thigh injury. Pato only came back into the side last Saturday, netting twice against Norwich, and it would be a blow if he missed out. There has been better news on him and I suspect he could play.
Andre Bikey is also back in the squad. He's been suffering with the rib injury he sustained at Millwall. He was on the bench in a couple of games before dropping out altogether. It's likely that Clarke Carlisle and Michael Duff will continue their partnership today with Bikey again on the bench.
If Paterson is ruled out then Chris Iwelumo will come in but if he's passed fit I expect us to line up: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Brian Easton, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson, Jay Rodriguez. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Leon Cort, Andre Bikey, Graham Alexander, Ross Wallace, Chris Iwelumo, Steven Thompson.
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The form we'd shown against Preston deserted us on this occasion under the Turf Moor lights but we won the game despite twice having to come from behind. As I left the ground I received a text from a friend describing it as an ugly win, but it was a win.
There were only six minutes gone when we fell behind for the first time and what a shocker it was. Clarke Carlisle had been in sensational form against Preston but here, against his former club, he allowed Will Hoskins to go through too easily.
Even so, Hoskins made a right hash of it and pushed a tame shot straight at Brian Jensen only to see the Burnley goalkeeper let the ball roll through his legs and into the net.
It was nearly two almost immediately with Carlisle again at fault but then Watford did what we'd done and gifted us a goal.
Less than a year earlier Leigh Bromby was close to signing for the Clarets from Sheffield United. On this night, for no apparent reason, he opted to handle a Wade Elliott cross and Graham Alexander made no mistake from the penalty spot.
The nearest we came to another was from what was almost a repeat wonder strike from Joey Gudjonsson that somehow Richard Lee managed to scramble away.
It looked to be heading into half time at 1-1 but then we failed to deal with a corner in the last minute of stoppage time and Hoskins was there again to score. He'd trebled his goals for Watford in half a game.
A goal right on half time is a killer, but probably not quite so much as one in the first minute of the second half and that's what we did to equalise for a second time. Again it came from an Elliott cross. This time it found Martin Paterson with a lot to do but the striker turned and hit a right foot shot into the corner.
Things didn't improve and Watford came close to taking the lead again on two separate occasions. They failed to take the chances and that cost them.
Chris Eagles, on for Steven Thompson, got down the left wing to the by line and pulled the ball back to the far post. You hope that there's a good header of a ball coming in on it but no, it was the provider of the first two goals Wade Elliott. He rose at the far post and majestically powered his header home and Burnley had won it.
Poor Watford, in front or level for much of the game they had given us an exhibition in time wasting both on the pitch and of course via Boothroyd on the touchline. Now, hardly surprisingly, they were rushing things. But they never came close to getting back into it and it was another win for Burnley. An ugly win it may well have been, but it was a win.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott (Robbie Blake 90), Joey Gudjonsson, Chris McCann, Steven Thompson (Chris Eagles 57), Martin Paterson (Jay Rodriguez 86). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Alan Mahon.
Watford: Richard Lee, Adrian Mariappa, Leigh Bromby, Darren Ward, Matt Lawrence, John-Jo O'Toole, Lee Williamson (Ainsworth 90), John Eustace (Tamas Priskin 79), Tommy Smith, Will Hoskins, Jon Harley. Subs not used: Mark Tyler, Ali Bangura, Jay DeMerit.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1994/95 | 1 | h | 1-1 | 11,739 | Eyres |
| . | . | a | 0-2 | 9,297 | . |
1996/97 | 2 | a | 2-2 | 6,450 | Gleghorn Smith |
| . | . | h | 4-1 | 8,269 | Cooke(3) Parkinson |
1997/98 | 2 | a | 0-1 | 11,155 | . |
| . | . | h | 2-0 | 9,551 | Cooke(2) |
2000/01 | 1 | a | 1-0 | 13,653 | Taylor |
| . | . | h | 2-0 | 18,283 | Payton Mullin |
2002/03 | 1 | a | 1-2 | 13,977 | Taylor |
| . | FAC | a | 0-2 | 20,336 | . |
| . | 1 | h | 4-7 | 10,208 | Taylor(3) Davis |
2003/04 | 1 | a | 1-1 | 11,573 | Chadwick |
| . | . | h | 2-3 | 11,413 | McGregor Adebola |
2004/05 | C | a | 1-0 | 12,043 | Moore |
| . | . | h | 3-1 | 11,507 | Bowditch O'Connor Valois |
2005/06 | C | a | 1-3 | 16,802 | G O'Connor(pen) |
| . | . | h | 4-1 | 13,815 | Branch Harley(2 1pen) J O'Connor |
2007/08 | C | a | 2-1 | 15,021 | Gray Gudjonsson |
| . | . | h | 2-2 | 13,677 | Blake(2) |
2008/09 | C | h | 3-2 | 10,033 | Alexander(pen) Paterson Elliott |
| . | . | a | 0-3 | 13,193 | . |