REPORT: BURNLEY 0-0 WATFORD

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Burnley held to goalless draw by Watford on wet and windy Saturday evening

2022-02-05T20:00:57.246Z

REPORT: BURNLEY 0-0 WATFORD

Burnley held to goalless draw by Watford on wet and windy Saturday evening

2022-02-05T20:00:57.246Z

The fixture against Roy Hodgson’s Hornets celebrated a decade of fantastic service from Club captain Ben Mee.

Sean Dyche handed a debut to new signing Wout Weghorst while Maxwel Cornet returned from Africa Cup of Nations Duty and into the starting line-up.

Dale Stephens also came into the side, as Josh Brownhill, Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra dropped out.

The Clarets started strongly, with Dwight McNeil bending a shot over Ben Foster’s crossbar from distance.

With 10 minutes played, Foster was forced into action, keeping out Cornet’s fierce effort after our number 20 found space in the box following Weghorst’s flick on.

WEGHORST DISCUSSES BURNLEY DEBUT AND WATFORD CLASH - Image 1

Three minutes later, Erik Pieters’ drive across the turf was heading on target, which was deflected wide.

The hosts, roared on by the magnificent home support, were knocking on the door, however the Dutchman could not connect with a cross after good build-up play from Aaron Lennon and Cornet.

Burnley survived a scare on the half hour mark, as Juraj Kucha drove into space down the right, however Josh King, well-positioned in the six-yard box, was unable to convert.

Nick Pope made a big save five minutes before the break. The England international thwarted King from a tight angle with his legs.

From the resulting corner, Lennon came to the Clarets’ rescue, clearing off the line after Kiko Femenia’s corner caused a goalmouth scramble.

Dyche’s men went close to opening the scoring within the opening two minutes of the half. Weghorst got the better of his marker to shoot in the box, though Haasane Kamara’s challenge saw the ball loop over a scrambling Foster, which thumped off the crossbar and was cleared by Edo Kayembe.

Up the other end, Mee threw himself in the way of Joao Pedro’s shot after a dangerous attack.

On the hour, Kucha’s cross was met by Pedro’s header that Pope palmed before collecting the loose ball.

Dyche made his first substitution of the clash with 66 minutes played, with Rodriguez replacing Lennon.

Pope then had to watch Pedro’s left-footed low attempt into his grasp.

The Clarets were on the search for an elusive opener and following James Tarkowski intercepting a Watford corner, the centre-back travelled up field with possession, finding Weghorst outside the box, who drilled over.

Cornet managed to reach Rodriguez’s excellent ball on the left, and the forward’s curling shot was pushed out by Foster, with Ashley Westwood drilling the rebound past the post.

Connor Roberts’ ball into the box was aimed at a lurking Weghorst, but Craig Cathcart was on hand to divert out of danger.

Pope made a smart save, tipping wide Tom Cleverley’s fizzing strike from the edge of the box that took a deflection.

In the closing minutes, Weghorst was brought down by Cathcart on the edge of the area for a free-kick. The set-piece, taken by Cornet, could not beat the wall.

Despite late pressure from Burnley, they were forced to settle for a point. Manchester United are the visitors to Turf Moor on Tuesday night, kick-off 8pm.

Teams:

Burnley: Pope, Pieters, Mee ©, Tarkowski, Roberts, Westwood, Stephens, McNeil, Lennon (Rodriguez 66), Cornet, Weghorst

Subs not used: Hennessey, Norris, Lowton, Bardsley, Long, Collins, Cork, Thomas

Watford: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Kucha, Kayembe (Cleverley 71), Sissoko ©, Sema, Joao Pedro (Hernandez 80), King

Subs not used: Bachmann, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Masina, Fletcher

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendance: 19,527