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It has been a turbulent start to the season for the former premiership side, since the death of loan signing Jimmy Davis, from Manchester United, which caused the postponement of their opening game of the 2003-04 season against Coventry. With just 4 points from 9 games, and a disappointing yet unlucky loss to Ipswich on the weekend after scoring first, the Hornets will be looking to get their season back on track when they host the Clarets this evening.
Burnley on the other hand, collapsed when David May was sent off at Milton Keynes for a second bookable offense - a deliberate handball. Franchise were able to get back into the game and the defensive frailties which were so evident last season were there once again for all to see. There was criticism for particular defenders dished out from Clarets fans but tonight, the lads have a chance to grab a vital away win and make it right. May will miss the West Ham game, provided the Reading match is postponed due to international call-ups, meaning that he'll be able to take his place alongside Andy Todd in the heart of defence tonight.
This will not, by any stretch of the imagination, be an easy game for the Burnley boys - however it is a must win. If it's another 11 goal massacre, let it be 11-0 to us!
Thank you for joining me this evening, up the Clarets! Please scroll down for the teams, which will include substitutions, goals and cards. I'll do my best for the half-time scores, you'll find these at the bottom of the page.
Match:
Clarets with 4 subs again, the embarrassing trend continues with Grant still hindered by that Foot injury.
Due to technical problems, the Clarets haven't provided me with their commentary therefore, I've missed the start and am listening through Watford.
1' Ball into the box from Vernazza causes some problems within the Clarets back line, but in the end defended well.
2' Clarets win a corner, flicked on by Facey but caught easily by Chamberlain.
3' Quick counter attack, Vernazza fed Webber who sliced it terribly wide.
4' Vernazza hit a shot which was deflected to Webber who forced a good save out of Jensen - offside anyway (Webber)
6' Good pressure from Watford, who won a corner thanks to good work from Danny Webber who's 'popping up all over the place'.
7' Ball around in the box, came to punch did Jensen but got no-where near it and the ball lobbed over his head and fortunately over the bar.
8' Attack from Watford comes to nothing, Camara deals with the danger.
9' Good chance for Webber again, but his first touch let the Clarets back in it with Jensen managing to come and mop it up.
10' Burnley applying some pressure, Blake wins a free kick on the edge of the area (left) Farrelly will take it, has a crack but hits the wall goes out for a corner. Comes to nothing.
11' Watford on the counter attack, nutmegs Dean West and Blake got back, but a corner up to Watford. Flicked away, back to the corner taker, comes to nothing.
12' Webber, to Robinson whips in a ball which is well punched away by Jensen.
12' Free kick to Watford Gayle heads it down Ardley can't win it, Clarets manage to clear. It's all Watford at the moment.
13' Good attack from Ian Moore but pulled it back to nobody and probably Burnley's best attack to date.
15' Jensen unceremoniously stacks it taking a goal-kick.
16' A bit of ping-pong between both sides between Todd and Ardley.
17' The flood-warden makes his first booking, it's Mahon going into the book for a nothing challenge on Chadwick. The commentator insults Chadwick's looks.
18' Mahon fouls Blake right on the edge of the box (as in...on the line) and it will be a free kick to Burnley. Come on Burnley...
Blake smacked it through the wall and Chamberlain made an excellent save.
19' Webber hits a drive on the counter, but easily saved by Jensen.
21' Attack from the Clarets Chadwick looked to feed Weller but the number 4 couldn't get on the end of it.
22' Clarets come forward again, and suggestions that we've got back into the game and are if anything getting on top of Watford. Good work from Facey who appears to have come out of his shell.
24' Great chance for Watford, Webber fed Mahon who missed the target from 8 yards who elected power over placement.
26' Ian Moore in pursuit of a ball down the wing, but a foul by Moore and so it comes to nothing. Cleared up field by Chamberlain.
27' Jensen comes to punch but again unconvincingly.
28' Jensen finally decides to come and catch a cross and does so well.
29' Dean West concedes the corner after some pressure down the right from the Hornets. Headed away.
30' Blake wins a free-kick on the edge of the box and the Flood-Warden books Kelly for the foul. Free kick comes in...PENALTY! Blake's shot hit's Webber on the hand and the Clarets have a penalty!
31' Blake steps up, and misses dreadfully. Whatever happened to the security of Robbie Blake's penalty?
32' Good chance for Ian Moore who's cross is caught easily by Chamberlain, plucked off Facey's head.
34' Chadwick concedes a free-kick as he blocks Ardley's clearance with his arms.
36' Cross in for West who's goal-bound shot was blocked by Robinson.
37' Watford on the counter-attack, Kelly this time and from 30 hit a dreaful shot.
38' Jensen completes his second stack of the afternoon.
38' West's cross punched away by Chamberlain, Facey was lurking.
39' Blake's cross in for Chadwick is headed away.
39' Ardley knocks a ball through but Fitzgerald, and Webber both offside. The Hornets without a decent attack for a good 15 minutes now.
40' West caught late by a poor challenge from someone, referee elects to 'have a word'.
41' Luke Chadwick sends through Ian Moore who was clean in, but it was a great covering tackle from Kelly.
41' Andy Todd goes into the book for dissent. Free kick taken ball in for Cox but couldn't get enough on his header, knocked clear by the Clarets.
42' Spilled by Jensen, under pressure from Dyer who fouled him.
43' Borrring.
45' 2 minutes of time added on.
46' Ball from Fitzgerald for Kelly but the Tottenham Hotspur defender was offside.
47' Mooro caught offside after some good work from Delroy Facey.
47' Chance for Watford, about 35 yards out probably the last chance of the half. Ball in from Ardley, flicked on by Cox oh and they've scored. What a terrible time to concede - Kelly with the diving header.
Half time Watford 0-1 Burnley, we'll rue that penalty miss.
SECOND HALF:
And I'm back with Phil Bird, and the Burnley lads.
45' Clarets get the second half underway.
47' Free kick to Burnley as Blake was fouled, sends it quickly for Chadwick but the lack of support for Luke means it comes to nothing.
48' Chadwick presented with the chance from Farrelly's poor shot, but misses the target by quite a way.
49' Facey battling with Kelly, but he's fouled his man.
50' Chance for Ian Moore, good flick on from a throw-in by Facey but Ian Moore made a hash of it from 6 yards and headed it over the bar.
52' Farrelly cops a knock on his knee and is down for some treatment. Should be OK though.
53' GOAAAAAAAAL! For the Clarets it's Luke Chadwick!! Throw-in from Farrelly flicked on by Facey and Chadwick scrambles it in, via a Robinson deflection.
55' Watford come forward searching for an equiliser, their attack comes for nothing.
56' May booked, VERY lucky, looked to possibly head-butt Ardley, after a strong challenge by May on Cox, but now we have both central defenders on yellows. Corner to Watford, comes to nothing.
57' Webber has a crack but it flies over the bar, lively game.
58' Long throw from Farrelly into the box causes some havoc but the pressure is relieved by Chamberlain.
60' Corner to Watford, but headed away from May.
61' Vernazza booked, Andy Hall now stamping down on the dissent.
61' Ball knocked forward by May comes to Facey who knocks it about 35 metres over the bar after a wild left-foot swing.
62' Chance for Watford, free-kick from Ardley, May and Jensen went for the same ball a break down in communications and Mays back header balloons onto the bar.
63' Consecutive corners to Watford, the second very eventful! Vernazza sees RED for a challenge on May who was already on the ground. Hornets down to 10 men.
64' Good chance for Burnley, but comes to nothing.
65' Mahon got away from Todd, and Jensen made a great save.
66' Substitution for Watford, Hand on for Dyer. Surely the Clarets can "do a Franchise" and hit back at the 10-men.
68' Ian Moore in some trouble, he caught Robinson late and it was a poor poor challenge, he'll be lucky to get a yellow...but a yellow it is.
70' Chaplow comes on for Farrelly who took a knock.
71' Crowd unhappy with a Blake challenge but comes to nothing.
73' Todd gives it away, to Hand but Moore was in and closed him down quickly.
74' Clarets with some possession now, but it's not really going anywhere.
75' Hand finds Webber, Watford with men in the box, but Ian Moore closed him down, goal kick to Burnley.
76' Clarets have the chance to run Watford down, but the Hornets are still hitting hard.
78' Branch comes on for May, possibly because of an injury. Branch goes to centre-back alongside Todd.
79' Clarets go 3 up front, Blake, I Moore join Facey.
80' Branch's ball to Facey just intercepted by Chamberlain who collected it right on the edge of his area.
81' Corner to Burnley, and Blake comes out after a one-two with Chaplow and wins another corner. 2nd corner Chamberlain collects.
82' Ian Moore wins the Clarets' 5th corner of the game after he and the defender slipped. Gayle heads corner away.
83' Blake's cross is beyond Weller. We've had a number of oportunities but we're over-elaborate.
86' West hits a right footed shot over the bar, COME ON BURNLEY!
88' Watford with a chance to come forward but Fitzgerald is caught offside.
90' 3 minutes of time added-on. Burnley 1-1 Watford.
92' CHADWICK HITS THE BLOODY POST! ARGH! Just evaded Ian Moore as well. Think it's dead now, it'll end 1-1.
93' Watford coming forward now, Webber has a shot, and it's come off Dean West - Watford with a late corner. Cox header on target and Jensen bowled it out quickly to Camara, but it's full time.
Burnley 1-1 Watford, thanks for joining me, and until next time - bye for now.
Watford:
1 Alec CHAMBERLAIN
32 Steve KELLY (booked '31)
4 Paolo VERNAZZA (booked '61)(sent off '63)
5 Neil COX
3 Paul ROBINSON
12 Gavin MAHON (booked '19)
2 Neal ARDLEY (booked '57)
15 Marcus GAYLE
9 Danny WEBBER
21 Scott FITZGERALD
7 Bruce DYER --> '66
Subs:
30 Lenny PIDGELEY
22 Lee COOK
27 Ashley YOUNG
6 Sean DYCHE
17 Jamie HAND <-- '66
Burnley:
1 Brian JENSEN
15 Dean WEST
5 David MAY (booked '56) --> '78
24 Andy TODD (booked '41)
3 Mohamed CAMARA
18 Luke CHADWICK
8 Robbie BLAKE
4 Paul WELLER
16 Gareth FARRELLY --> '70
10 Ian MOORE (yellow '68)
19 Delroy FACEY
Subs:
6 Graham BRANCH <-- '78
20 Richard CHAPLOW <-- '70
21 Matty O'NEILL
2 Lee ROCHE
West Brom 2-1 Millwall (Koumas '5; Dobie '24 - Nethercott '45) [FT]
Norwich 2-1 Reading (Huckerby '17, McVeigh '87 - Forster '25) [FT]
Bradford 1-2 Derby (Gray '59 - Morris '45, '79)
Watford 1-1 Burnley (Fitzgerald '45 - Chadwick '53) [FT]
Rotherham 3-0 Stoke (Byfield '45 pen; Butler '51, '90) [FT]
Sunderland 3-2 Ipswich (Breen '44; Oster '49; Kyle '85 - Bent '36; Naylor '51)
Franchise MK 1-2 Sheffield United (Nowland '49 - Ward '62; Peschisolido '68) [FT]
Cardiff 0-0 Wigan [FT]