It was a red hot affair at Turf Moor as the battling Clarets had to settle for a 2-2 against a physical Watford side who twice led.

Substitute Robbie Blake grabbed his 50th league goal for Burnley to equalise Darius Henderson's first half strike against the run of play.

The Hornets then looked to be heading for a 2-1 win after Jordan Stewart's controversial 85th minute strike.

But Blake came to the rescue for the Clarets again, curling home a left foot shot on 87 minutes to grab Burnley a well-deserved point.

Watford had the best of the early possession, but it was the Clarets who almost took the lead on three minutes when Chris McCann released Kyle Lafferty.

The Northern Ireland international burst towards the Hornets goal and was unlucky to drag his shot just inches wide.

Ade Akinbiyi really should have broken the deadlock on 11 minutes but he scuffed wide in front of an open goal after McCann had chased down and blocked a clearance by Watford keeper Richard Lee.

That amazing miss spurred Burnley on though and Lafferty went close again three minutes later, only to see his shot well blocked at the near post.

Akinbiyi glanced a header just wide from an Elliott corner on 21 minutes as the Clarets continued to carve out the best of the chances at a blustery Turf Moor.

But it was Watford who took the lead on 23 minutes when Henderson rose highest to head home a Jobi McAnuff corner.

That lead could have been doubled just two minutes later when Nathan Ellington sprung the offside trap.

Brian Jensen palmed his shot away and Henderson's follow-up was deflected wide for a corner.

Andrew Cole was just inches away from dragging the Clarets level on 42 minutes but he just failed to get his head on Elliott's teasing cross.

That was to prove the last effort of the first half and Burnley went in at the break 0-1 down.

The start of the second half was a frantic one and Akinbiyi srambled the ball into the net just four minutes in.

But he was rightly judged offside by the referee's assistant as he headed a Lafferty cross past Lee.

The game became an ill-tempered affair soon after, not helped by referee Dean Whitestone, who seemed to completely lose control of proceedings.

However, the Clarets continued to try and force their way back into the game and McCann was unlucky with a header which crept just wide after a dangerous cross from Lafferty.

Akinbiyi had yet another great chance to bring the Clarets level but despite reacting first to Lee's parry of Lafferty's shot, he headed over the bar from four yards out and was grateful to see the flag raised.

Mr Whitestone again incensed the Turf Moor crowd again on 71 minutes when he chose to just issue a yellow card to Henderson despite the striker flooring Burnley keeper Brian Jensen.

Two minutes later and McCann thought he had squared things up, but his header from a Robbie Blake corner hit the post and bounced to safety.

Seconds later though and the Clarets were finally level!

Blake, who had only been on the field three minutes, latched onto a clever back heel from Cole and fired past Lee much for his 50th league goal for the Clarets, in two spells.

Gallingly, Watford took the lead again on 85 minutes in controversial circumstances.

Henderson looked to drag Clarets skipper Steve Caldwell to the ground and the ball dropped to substitute Jordan Stewart, who smashed home with his first touch.

But as a breathless game reached a climax, the lead lasted only last a minute-and-a-half and Blake was again the hero, curling home a left-footed shot from 12 yards out to send Turf Moor into raptures.

Chances in the remaining three minutes were few and far between as the game petered out and Burnley had to settle for a point against Aidy Boothroyd's men.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Harley, O'Connor, Elliott, McCann, Lafferty, Cole, Akinbiyi (Blake 72).
Subs: Kiraly, Gudjonsson, Randall, Unsworth.
Booked: Akinbiyi (53, dissent), Caldwell (69, foul), Lafferty (84, dissent)

Watford: Lee, Shittu, Sadler, Eustace, Henderson, McAnuff, Ellington (Kabba 72), Bromby, Smith (Stewart 83), Mariappa (DeMerit 61), O'Toole.
Subs: Poom, John.
Booked: Shittu (53, dissent), Henderson (71, unsporting behaviour)

Attendance: 13,677.