Watford all but relegated from Premier League after Burnley defeat

The Hornets had been in a position to end their six-month wait for a home win after James Tarkowski’s early own goal.

But the tide of the game was increasingly turning as the second half wore on as Roy Hodgson inexplicably didn’t introduce any fresh legs and Burnley’s pressure told as Jack Cork headed home the equaliser with eight minutes of normal time left.

The next time the Hornets defence came under pressure, they collapsed as Josh Brownhill side-footed home to move his side 12 points clear of their opponents.

The Hornets had started with a positivity and intensity that has been seen all too infrequently at home this season and their positive endeavours was to gain an early reward, with Tarkowski turning the ball into his own net after a Juraj Kucka shot rebounded down off the bar.

The hosts continued to press and Kucka and Joao Pedro had opportunities to extend their lead, before it looked like the visitors would be given a great chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty. However, replays showed Moussa Sissoko’s foul on Dwight McNeil had taken place outside the area and the decision was overturned after being checked by VAR.

Aaron Lennon had an early chance after the restart, while Nick Pope did well to keep out a Kucka shot, but the momentuim was turn in the visitors’ favour in the second half as the Hornets began to drop deeper.

Substitute Ashley Barnes went very close to equalising before the Clarets’ pressure did tell and Watford’s inability to hold firm was exposed yet again.

Hodgson, who was able to take the team after missing training yesterday through illness, made three changes to the side that was thrashed 5-1 at Manchester City last time out.

Back came Kiko Femenia and Kucka while Pedro was given the nod up front, with Jeremy Ngakia and Joshua King dropping to the bench. Tom Cleverley was not involved.

Former Hornets striker Matej Vydra scored the only goal to boost Burnley’s survival prospects with a 1-0 win against Wolves last weekend, but that wasn’t enough to keep his place in the team – at least initially.

The Czech Republic striker was set to make way for Lennon in the only change to the starting XI, with Jay Rodriguez moving up front to partner Wout Weghorst.

However, that changed shortly before kick off when Vydra came into the team due to a late problem for Rodriguez. Goalkeeper Will Norris took Vydra’s place on the bench.

Watford had an opportunity to test their opponents in the opening 20 seconds when Emmanuel Dennis was able to play Hassane Kamara into space on the left, but Pope was able to gather the left-back’s cross with ease.

Although the same outcome happened two minutes later, the Hornets were getting some early encouragement down the left flank; Dennis the next to get into an attacking position on that side of the pitch. And that early positivity was to be rewarded in the eighth minute.

Following the Hornets’ first corner of the match, they kept play alive with Femenia swinging a dangerous cross into the area and the ball ran for Kucka, who struck a rising drive which rebounded down off the bar and into the helpless Tarkowski, who turned the ball into his own net.

The Hornets’ tails were up and they had opportunities to double their advantage before 15 minutes were on the clock.

First Kucka again found space on the left side of the area to hit another shot which Tarkowski deflected over the top, and then Ben Foster picked out Pedro with a long pass which the Brazilian brought down and struck early from the edge of the penalty area, sending it not too far wide of the target.

Burnley had been firmly on the back foot since the opening whistle, but they weren’t too far away with their first chance as Brownhill shot narrowly wide from the edge of the 18-yard box following a free-kick.

A mistake from Nathan Collins almost let in Pedro before it was the Clarets’ turn to have an opportunity, with the outstretched leg of Weghorst not far away from connecting with Brownhill’s low pull back from the left.

Femenia, who had early forced Pope to punch an inswinging corner away from beneath his own bar, went even closer with a similar delivery in the 25th minute which rebounded off the near post.

That could have made it 2-0, but the odds firmly moved in Burnley’s favour to level affairs two minutes later when McNeil’s surge towards the box was ended by a foul from Sissoko and referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot.

However, replays showed the offence had taken place outside the area, VAR Stuart Attwell agreed and Pawson overturned his decision, awarding a free-kick which Brownhill struck into the base of the wall.

Dennis tested Pope with a low angled effort at the other end from the right side of the area, before wasting the opportunity to cross from a dangerous free-kick position on the left, ambitiously going for goal and putting it wide of the near post.

It was then the Hornets’ turn to appeal for a penalty when Femenia’s attempted cross was put behind by the sliding Tarkowski, with the ball catching his arm on the ground, but Pawson was unmoved.

Vydra had his first opening three minutes before the break when he headed a Connor Roberts pass up in the air before spinning and hooking a left-footed half-volley wide of the near post.

But it was the Hornets who had the last chance of the half when Ismaila Sarr won a free-kick on the right side of the area which Imran Louza whipped in left-footed and again Pope punched clear as the home side took their one goal lead into the break.

However, that advantage could have been cancelled out inside two minutes of the restart when Sarr was dispossessed in his own half and Lennon ran at the heart of the defence before tried to place a right-footed finish wide of Foster, but the Watford keeper was equal to it.

Tarkowski picked up the first yellow card of the contest for pulling down Pedro, but two minutes later it was Pope’s turn to excel, diving to his right to keep out a Kucka shot after Sarr had countered at pace after the tenacity had Pedro had won the ball to set up the attack.

Watford were producing some good attacking play and they had their next opportunity in the 56th minute when Sissoko hit a deep early cross from the right, picking out Dennis on the opposite side of the area and the Nigerian twisted and turned before hitting a left-footed effort back across the target and wide.

Mike Jackson made his first change three minutes later as Weghorst was replaced by Barnes, who wasn’t far away from getting his head on a Roberts cross a couple of minutes later as the visitors started to ask more attacking questions.

Foster was beaten by Tarkowski to a corner with 20 minutes remaining, but the header went over the top as the hosts continued to hold firm at the back.

Burnley were increasingly knocking at the door and from their next corner they went very close to equalising; Barnes getting up at the back post to head the delivery against the bar, with Foster clawing the ball away as it dropped back down.

The Hornets were beginning to defend increasingly deep and with eight minutes to go their resistance was broken.

Kucka had played well but he inexplicably let Charlie Taylor run past him with ease on the flank at the left-back was able to cross and pick put the onrushing Cork, who scored with a diving header at the far post to equalise with eight minutes remaining.

The tide had firmly turned and four minutes later when the Hornets next came under pressure defensively they collapsed, failing to clear their lines and allowing Brownhill the time and space to side-foot home from the edge of the area to send the visiting fans into collective delirium while a cascade of boos rang out from the Vicarage Road faithful.

Foster raced from his line to prevent Vydra from making it three, while a late red card review threatened to lead to one final twist, but it was the contingent of Clarets fans who were celebrating at the final whistle as more boos rang out from the long-suffering Hornets fans still inside Vicarage Road.

They deserve better than to witness this disgraceful home record reach previously unscaled depths in the history of English top-flight football.

Watford: Foster; Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara; Sissoko, Louza, Kucka; Sarr, Pedro, Dennis. Subs not used: Bachmann, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, King, Masina, Sema, Gosling, Kalu, Kayembe.

Burnley: Pope; Roberts, Collins, Tarkowski, Taylor; McNeil, Cork, Brownhill, Lennon (Lowton 89); Weghorst (Barnes 59), Vydra (Stephens 90). Subs not used: Hennessey, Norris Bardsley, Long, Thomas, Costelloe.

Referee: Craig Pawson