PL PREVIEW: BURNLEY V WATFORD

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Clarets host the Hornets on Wednesday night

2021-12-15T09:39:00.000Z

PL PREVIEW: BURNLEY V WATFORD

Clarets host the Hornets on Wednesday night

2021-12-15T09:39:00.000Z

Clarets entertain Watford at Turf Moor

Burnley picked up their third clean sheet of the season in Sunday’s goalless draw with West Ham United. It was Nick Pope’s 40th Premier League clean sheet in 120 appearances.

Claudio Ranieri replaced Xisco Munoz as Watford Head Coach in October. He has already managed Chelsea, Leicester City and Fulham in the Premier League. Of course, he led the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2016.

Watford are 17th, Burnley are 18th with two points separating the two clubs but the Clarets have a game in hand.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche knows the importance of wins.

“We’ve slowly but surely been getting back to where I think we can be, certainly with clean sheets and being tighter in games and draws. We’re well aware we’ve got to make those draws into wins.”

Burnley have been involved in relegation battles before. That experience may help them but the former Watford player and manager knows there is a battle ahead.

“Now it’s all right knowing that, but you’ve still got to go out and perform. All it does is make you more game ready for it. So, we’ve got to take that thinking and action because football doesn’t owe you anything.”

Team news

Maxwel Cornet missed the West Ham game with a thigh injury.

Connor Roberts and Dale Stephens are both recovering from illness.

Ashley Barnes is out with a thigh injury.

Veteran Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster is out with a groin injury.

Former Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr has missed the last few games with a knee injury.

Form guide

Burnley held high-flying West Ham United to a goalless draw at Turf Moor on Sunday. It was their seventh draw in the last 10 Premier League games.

Watford lost a cliffhanger to Brentford on Friday night. The Hornets led through Emmanuel Dennis before late goals from Pontus Jansson and Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford a dramatic win.

PL PREVIEW: WEST HAM UNITED V BURNLEY - Image 1

Opposition guide

The Hornets made an immediate return from the Championship last season. They finished second behind Norwich City with 91 points to achieve their fourth promotion into the Premier League.

Watford have lost 11 league games this season, more than any other side.

Ranieri is recovering from the disappointment of the late loss at Brentford and is ready for a big test.

“It is a very important match. Always I am confident with my players. The approach is always the same, we don’t change our philosophy. I know it will be a fantastic battle, this [Burnley] is a team that fights in every situation until the whistle. It will be a very good match and battle.”

The Italian is pleased with the form of top scorer Dennis but he wants improvement in defence.

“I am happy because we make lots of chances to score goals. Of course, we have to improve our defensive way because when I say the defensive line, I don’t just mean the defence – everyone must be involved to stop the opponent.”

Match stats

Burnley did the double over Watford in the 2019/20 season. The Clarets won 3-0 at Vicarage Road with goals from Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes (p) and James Tarkowski. Jay Rodriguez got the only goal in the 1-0 win over Watford in June 2020.

Matt Lowton is set to make his 150th Premier League appearance for Burnley.

Jack Cork had a loan spell at Watford in 2009.

Matej Vydra was promoted with the Hornets in 2015. He scored 16 Championship goals for Watford that season.

Chris Wood is on 49 Premier League goals for Burnley.

Nigerian international Dennis was signed from Club Brugge in the summer, he has been involved in 12 Premier League goals already this season (seven goals plus five assists).

Thirteen managers have left Vicarage Road since Dyche departed in 2012.

Match Referee

Martin Atkinson

VAR

Stuart Attwell

Kick off

Wednesday 15th December 2021, 7.30pm.

Broadcast

Burnley v Watford is live on BT Sport/ESPN.

There will be live audio commentary with Phil Bird on Clarets+.