Tom Cleverley’s first-half goal was enough for 10-man Watford to see off Burnley at Vicarage Road and move to the top of the Championship.
Rob Edwards’ side have begun their campaign with two wins and a draw from their first three matches and, while they could be toppled by the end of the weekend, their status as league leaders represents an impressive start to the former Forest Green manager’s tenure.
The game’s only goal came in stoppage time at the end of a first period in which both sides lacked quality in the final third, but Cleverley showed his team-mates how it’s done when he coolly slotted Ken Sema’s pullback from the right past Arijanet Muric and into the bottom corner.
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Burnley bossed the second half as they searched for an equaliser but couldn’t find a way past the impressive Daniel Bachmann – even after Hassane Kamara’s late red card for a professional foul – meaning Vincent Kompany’s side have just four points and two goals from their first three matches back in the second tier.
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More to follow…
What’s next?
Watford face back-to-back away games, starting with a trip to Birmingham on Tuesday followed by a fixture at Preston next Saturday. The Hornets will then return to Vicarage Road to play MK Dons in the Carabao Cup second round on August 23.
In contrast, Burnley face back-to-back home matches against Hull on Tuesday and Blackpool next Saturday before also then turning their attentions to the Carabao Cup, where they travel to Shrewsbury for their second-round tie on August 23.