Burnley Bounce Back To Beat Watford

Burnley’s Jack Cork and Josh Brownhill scored late goals to snatch a 2-1 win at second-bottom Watford in a pulsating Premier League relegation battle at Vicarage Road on Saturday, the club’s first come-from-behind away win in the Premier League.

The victory lifts Burnley to 16th spot on 34 points from 34 games, five clear of Everton who are 18th but have two games in hand. Watford remain 19th on 22 points, seven behind Everton and 12 behind Leeds in 17th with four games left to play.

“At this stage of the season it is just about finding ways to win games, and credit to them they’ve done that again,” interim Burnley boss Mike Jackson told the BBC after his side notched their third straight win.

Watford took the lead when Kiko Femenia’s crossreached Juraj Kucka at the far post and his shot thumped against the bar before rebounding off unsuspecting Burnley defender James Tarkowski into the net for an own goal in the eighth minute.

The Hornets enjoyed a dominant opening spell, with Kucka going close with a shot and a header and Joao Pedro flashing a shot wide as Burnley struggled to find their bearings.

Luck also appeared to be on Watford’s side when a decision to award a penalty to Burnley was changed by VAR to a free kick as the foul on Dwight McNeil took place outside the box.

With Ben Foster inspired in goal, Watford looked set to bag all three points despite wasting a number of decent chances, but Burnley never gave up and Cork equalised with a superb header in the 83rd minute.

That took the wind out of the home side and three minutes later Brownhill fired home a brilliant winner from the edge of the area to hand Watford their 11th straight home league defeat.

Having not tasted success in the league at Vicarage Road since a 4-1 victory over Manchester United in November 2021, Watford must now win their last four games while hoping other results go their way if they are to survive in the top flight.

“It would need something spectacular (to stay up) but there is more to play for than the points, we have got to play for our pride, we don’t want to stop playing and get embarrassed,” Watford assistant coach Ray Lewington told the BBC.

“We have to try and perform and to our best, for the players’ pride and the supporters. Of course, it is a grave position, and we know that.”

Reuters