Watford 1-2 Burnley: Two late goals lift Clarets five points clear of relegation zone
Burnley scored twice in the final seven minutes to complete a dramatic comeback that pulled them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and left hosts Watford on the brink of relegation.
Jack Cork’s diving header from Charlie Taylor’s left-wing cross cancelled out James Tarkowski’s early own goal, before Josh Brownhill found the bottom corner from the edge of the box to spark jubilant scenes among the travelling fans and in the away dugout at Vicarage Road.
Watford had taken a deserved early lead when Juraj Kucka’s fierce effort struck the crossbar before rebounding off the unfortunate Tarkowski and into the unguarded net.
The Hornets carried the greater threat in the first half, Kiko Femenia striking the near post from an inswinging corner and Joao Pedro blazing over the crossbar after escaping the Clarets defence.
Aaron Lennon and Ashley Barnes forced fine saves out of Ben Foster in the second half, but there was little the veteran goalkeeper could do about either of the visitors’ late goals, which came in the space of three minutes.
The Hornets’ 11th consecutive home defeat leaves them 12 points adrift of Burnley and Leeds – who play Manchester City later on Saturday – with only four games remaining.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Watford
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameFosterAverage rating6.37
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Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating5.05
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Squad number27Player nameKabaseleAverage rating4.97
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Squad number22Player nameSamirAverage rating4.93
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Squad number14Player nameKamaraAverage rating
4.93
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Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
5.10
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Squad number6Player nameLouzaAverage rating
5.04
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Squad number33Player nameKuckaAverage rating
5.05
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Squad number23Player nameSarrAverage rating
4.96
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Squad number10Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
5.18
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Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
5.45
Substitutes
No players have been substituted yet
Burnley
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player namePope
Average rating7.67
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Squad number14Player nameRoberts
Average rating7.44
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Squad number22Player nameCollins
Average rating7.48
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Squad number5Player nameTarkowski
Average rating6.46
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Average rating7.47
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Squad number11Player nameMcNeil
Average rating7.49
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Squad number4Player nameCork
Average rating7.67
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Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Average rating7.67
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Squad number17Player nameLennon
Average rating7.44
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Squad number27Player nameVydra
Average rating7.44
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Squad number9Player nameWeghorst
Average rating7.45
Substitutes
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Squad number2Player nameLowton
Average rating8.18
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Squad number10Player nameBarnes
Average rating7.99
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Squad number16Player nameStephens
Average rating8.17
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Foster
- 21Femenía
- 27Kabasele
- 22Samir
- 14Kamara
- 19Sissoko
- 6Louza
- 33KuckaBooked at 87mins
- 23Sarr
- 10João Pedro
- 25Dennis
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 7King
- 11Masina
- 12Sema
- 16Gosling
- 26Bachmann
- 28Kalu
- 39Kayembe
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Pope
- 14Roberts
- 22CollinsBooked at 90mins
- 5TarkowskiBooked at 48mins
- 3Taylor
- 11McNeil
- 4Cork
- 8Brownhill
- 17LennonSubstituted forLowtonat 89′minutes
- 27VydraSubstituted forStephensat 90+2′minutes
- 9WeghorstSubstituted forBarnesat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Lowton
- 10Barnes
- 13Hennessey
- 16Stephens
- 25Norris
- 26Bardsley
- 28Long
- 37Thomas
- 44Costelloe
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 20,738
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Watford 1, Burnley 2.
