Can you feel the love tonight?

Last updated : 13 February 2011 By Tony Scholes
Chris Eagles
Elegent - Ludicrous - Tremendous - Outstanding - iNspired
It was another good away day for the Clarets on a day when we benefited from a bizarre goal and were then treated to a master class from former Watford loanee Chris Eagles in the second half.

Make no mistake, this was a good performance, particularly in the second half, and a third away win on the road was no more than we deserved on a pitch that was hardly conducive to decent football. Probably the most pleasing of all was that, once in front for a second time, we never looked as though we might lose it.

We arrived in Watford early and had lunch in the town centre before calling into the bookmakers to put some money on a 4-1 away win. It's hardly a town of plenty but we made friends with some of the home fans as we made our way to the ground ahead of kick off.

We learned that Charlie Austin was not involved. Apparently he's not been blessed with good health all week but as one door closes another one opens and it did for Chris Iwelumo who told manager Eddie Howe: "It's me that you need," and he was named in the side that started in the same 4-4-2 formation as was so successful for much of the game last week.

Our last three wins at Vicarage Road have all come with us attacking the goal in front of the away fans in the second half, so I was delighted to see Lee Grant take up position there for the start of the game.

It could, without doubt, have been a nightmare start. Watford should have been in front within twenty seconds of the kick off as Burnley were caught cold. They managed to nik it away from us and that allowed Danny Graham to play in Manchester United player Daniel Drinkwater.

Thankfully he hit his shot across Grant and, to our relief, it rolled just wide of the far post. What an escape and it certainly wakened us and we dominated the next few minutes. Clarke Carlisle freed Ross Wallace down the right but Watford were able to clear, Wallace set up Jack Cork who saw his shot blocked and then Chris Eagles was released in the box but he just couldn't quite get the ball over Scott Loach.

After that early scare we'd really set about Watford but I don't think anyone was prepared, and least of all Jay Rodriguez, for the way we took the lead. A ball down the pitch was causing no problems as defender Dale Bennett shepherded it back to his goalkeeper to clear.

Loach did just that, but his clearance smashed into Bennett, who was just outside the box, and cannoned into the unguarded net. Jay Rod looked bemused and wasn't really sure he could go off and celebrate.

As for Loach and Bennett they just stared at each other wondering which one of them should be shouldering the blame. No words were spoken but it surely would have been better if one of them had stood up to be counted and apologised. Sorry seems to be the hardest word and eventually they found it easier to walk away.

The poor defender looked to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and went on to have a torrid first half before being substituted. Having said that, he didn't have to wait long to see his team draw level and again it was some dubious defending.

Clarke Carlisle allowed Marvin Sordell to get the better of him down their right and when the low cross came in we had Tyrone Mears and Lee Grant confusing each other as the ball dropped for the league's Danny Graham to equalise.

Whilst absolutely nothing like our goal it was still a very bad goal to give away and within five minutes of taking the lead we'd presented Watford with a soft equaliser.

Poor Clarke certainly doesn't save his best days for his former club and he almost presented Watford with a second as he once again saw Sordell get the better of him. This time, thankfully, Grant came to the rescue with a smart save.

The rest of the half was fairly even with neither goalkeeper being forced into too much and it was probably about right that we went in with the score at 1-1.

If anything Watford had the better of things at the beginning of the second half but that's when Chris Eagles stepped in and started to dominate proceedings. However, it was Jay Rod who had the first shot at goal, hooking a difficult opportunity just over the bar.

There was a worrying moment following a challenge from Danny Fox on the half way line. Referee Tony Bates had ridiculously yellow carded Tyrone Mears early in the game because he'd committed two fouls.

This time, with the Watford players screaming for a red, he did hold firm and wave his yellow again as Will Buckley laid over the touchline. I've not had the opportunity, as yet, to see it again, but it was nothing like last week's horrific challenge from Adam Drury. Fox's feet were on the ground.

I'm sure the camera never lies and will support Fox and what a shame that they went looking for retribution.

The Eagles master class was now in full flow. As many players found it difficult to keep their feet on the difficult surface he was beginning to lead Watford a merry dance. A good ball from Fox was helped on brilliantly by Wallace for Cork.

He played the ball to Eagles who played a one-two with Iwelumo before taking his shot early and stabbing it home. Words can't describe just how good a goal it was. He was like a tiny dancer as he moved into position to get in the shot, in total harmony with the ball.

Nine minutes later and he returned the favour and gave Big Chris his first away goal of the season. Our shooting star of the first goal got the ball into the box on the right hand side and came almost along the line.

I thought he was going to go it alone as the defender came across, but Eagles looked into his blue eyes and promptly hit the ball across to the far post. There was Iwelumo to head home from a couple of yards out. The cross was perfect, one more arrow just where it was intended, and Iwelumo won't have an easier chance all season.

Iwelumo was immediately withdrawn and replaced by Steven Thompson. Chris received a standing ovation from the away following. It was long and sustained and I suddenly realised a couple of minutes later how long it had been when I thought, I'm still standing.

Watford did have a chance to get back into the game but Grant made another superb save to deny Andy Weimann. At that point Howe made another change. He opted to sacrifice Cork to introduce captain fantastic Graham Alexander. Cork, another former Watford loanee, left to a wonderful ovation, something they repeated for Eagles when we came off in stoppage time.

The tension was getting to two over excitable women sat in front of me and as Watford attacked again one of them, fearing a home comeback, screamed: "Don't go breaking my heart Burnley." She needed to look at the big picture, we'd furnished this win.

In the very last minute of normal time they had one more chance but Graham headed wide. That was it, that was the one and this was made for me and us now.

"Tell me when the whistle blows," the other women said as the four minutes of stoppage time went into a seventh minute. I kept looking at my watch thinking it's going to be tonight before we can return to paradise in the north.

The Burnley fans were murdering Depeche Mode and the Beach Boys again. I wondered what on earth our new director, again in our midst, thought of the singing of 'Sloop John B'. There certainly weren't any sad songs coming from that away end.

There was to be just one more major talking point. Marvin Bartley had come on during the extended stoppage time for his Burnley debut. He was, without doubt, brought down for a blatant penalty. Not only did Bates not give it, neither did he blow for the obvious back pass to the goalkeeper immediately after. Now, what about our 4-1 bet?

He didn't give us chance to let the sun go down on this win without one last talking point.

I love away wins, and this was one to really enjoy. I've not seen Burnley win more league games anywhere other than the Turf. You really do get a good feeling when you win away from home and, after such a long wait, the circle of life has now seen us win three since Boxing Day.

That fantastic feeling. It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. That's my song anyway, maybe it is your song too.

The teams were;

Watford: Scott Loach, Lee Hodson, Martin Taylor, Dale Bennett (Adam Thompson 45), Adrian Mariappa, Will Buckley, John Eustace, Danny Drinkwater (Andros Townsend 72), Stephen McGinn, Danny Graham, Marvin Sordell (Andy Weimann 55). Subs not used: Rene Gilmartin, Troy Deeney, Ross Jenkins, Matthew Whichelow.
Yellow Card: John Eustace.

Burnley: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Danny Fox, Ross Wallace, Jack Cork (Graham Alexander 83), Dean Marney, Chris Eagles (Marvin Bartley 90+1), Chris Iwelumo (Steven Thompson 76), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Andre Bikey, Brian Easton, Wade Elliott.
Yellow Cards: Tyrone Mears, Danny Fox.

Referee: Tony Bates (Stoke).

Attendance: 13,103 (including 1,078 Clarets).

Footnote

Wade Elliott was an unused substitute in this game and this was the first Burnley league game he hasn't played in since the 2-1 defeat at Preston on 17th January 2009.

That run of 85 consecutive league appearances started with a visit to Watford two seasons ago.