EPL: Burnley 1-0 Watford
Scott Arfield grabbed the crucial goal
Scott Arfield grabbed the crucial goal on the stroke of half-time as Burnley edged to a 1-0 victory against 10-man Watford.
The Clarets coped with the wintry conditions at Turf Moor well as they clinched the three points that leaves them seventh in the Premier League table.
The visitors started well and almost scored an early goal when Roberto Pereyra helped on Tom Cleverley’s corner, but nobody could force the ball home.
As the Hornets continued to dominate the opening exchanges, Richarlison fired over the bar as he stretched every sinew to get on the end of Andre Carrillo’s cross before Pereyra’s first-time shot was blocked.
When the home side began to get a foothold in the match, Johann Gudmundsson’s free-kick beat the Hornets wall but was kept out by Heurelho Gomes who then saved Chris Wood’s first-time shot.
As the entertaining match continued to ebb and flow, and the snow began to fall, Abdoluaye Doucoure was denied by Nick Pope who then saved Daryl Janmaat’s weak header.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute when Marvin Zeegelaar was shown a straight red card after making a two-footed challenge on Steven Defour.
Burnley took full advantage by taking the lead just before the interval when Gudmundsson’s cross was tucked home by Arfield.
In the second half, when Marco Silva’s team tried to respond, Doucoure rolled a 20-yard shot wide while at the other end Wood thought he had doubled the Clarets’ lead, but Ashley Barnes was offside.
Watford thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Andre Carrillo appeared to have been brought down by James Tarkowski while Sean Dyche’s side had another effort disallowed after Barnes had put the ball in the back of the net, but Burnley had already done enough to clinch the three points.
The visitors started well and almost scored an early goal when Roberto Pereyra helped on Tom Cleverley’s corner, but nobody could force the ball home.
As the Hornets continued to dominate the opening exchanges, Richarlison fired over the bar as he stretched every sinew to get on the end of Andre Carrillo’s cross before Pereyra’s first-time shot was blocked.
When the home side began to get a foothold in the match, Johann Gudmundsson’s free-kick beat the Hornets wall but was kept out by Heurelho Gomes who then saved Chris Wood’s first-time shot.
As the entertaining match continued to ebb and flow, and the snow began to fall, Abdoluaye Doucoure was denied by Nick Pope who then saved Daryl Janmaat’s weak header.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute when Marvin Zeegelaar was shown a straight red card after making a two-footed challenge on Steven Defour.
Burnley took full advantage by taking the lead just before the interval when Gudmundsson’s cross was tucked home by Arfield.
In the second half, when Marco Silva’s team tried to respond, Doucoure rolled a 20-yard shot wide while at the other end Wood thought he had doubled the Clarets’ lead, but Ashley Barnes was offside.
Watford thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Andre Carrillo appeared to have been brought down by James Tarkowski while Sean Dyche’s side had another effort disallowed after Barnes had put the ball in the back of the net, but Burnley had already done enough to clinch the three points.