'MASSIVE THREE POINTS' INSISTS PARKER FOLLOWING VICTORY OVER HORNETS

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Clarets boss applauds display from his team at Vicarage Road

2025-04-18T19:04:17.318Z

'MASSIVE THREE POINTS' INSISTS PARKER FOLLOWING VICTORY OVER HORNETS

Clarets boss applauds display from his team at Vicarage Road

2025-04-18T19:04:17.318Z

Clarets boss applauds display from his team at Vicarage Road

Scott Parker lauded a ‘massive three points’ for his team after Burnley came back from an early deficit to win 2-1 away to Watford and go top of the Sky Bet Championship table with three games to play.

Goals in each half from Zian Flemming and Josh Brownhill turned the match around alongside a string of stunning saves from James Trafford – including a save of the season contender – which ensured the Clarets’ fantastic unbeaten run stretched to 30 games.

Speaking post-match at Vicarage Road, Parker said: “It's a massive three points for us. We knew the challenge coming here; a good side, a physical team and that was proven today.

"We started the game slowly a little bit, go a goal down from the second phase of a set play but I thought our reaction was really, really good.

"Traff pulls out an incredible save when it could have easily gone two and then we score a brilliantly executed goal which gets us back into the game at 1-1 and that was probably needed at that point."

Parker continued: "I always felt we were a threat first half. We carved open a couple of really good opportunities while they had their moments as well.

"I spoke to the players at half time and said on how we had prepped for this game it was exactly what we wanted it to be but we just needed to be a bit better in our movements and in the final detail.

BROWNHILL PRAISES TEAM FOR THREE POINTS AT WATFORD - Image 2

"We go 2-1 up and the game becomes very physical. It becomes a bit of carnage, and they get a couple of men sent off. I was pleased with our mentality and our calmness in that moment because anyone in that stadium could see at that moment the game becomes very physical and we could have got sucked into that.

"We showed real calm heads and probably should have seen the game off with a couple of big chances. But we came here with one thought and that was three points with three games left. We’ve checked that box and overall, really pleased.”

Trafford played a crucial role in keeping the score at just 1-0 before half-time, just before Flemming turned home the equaliser and Parker had high praise for his No.1.

On his saves, the Burnley boss said: "Even the first one [nearly making the save for the first goal], you think Traff is that good that he’s kept that out but obviously it trickled in.

"But the second one – the fella has hit a strike where arguably you wouldn’t see a better strike over the weekend, and he has pulled off an absolute wonder save. And from that we’ve gone up the other end and scored so that was a pivotal moment.

"Traff has been that guy throughout the season pulling off big saves in big moments and it’s a sign of world-class goalies that in their moments they pull off big saves and he’s done that for us today. He was superb."