Burnley 0 Watford 0: Home side fail to make most of early pressure as Zola's men secure much-needed point

Burnley 0 Watford 0: Home side fail to make most of early pressure as Zola's men secure much-needed point

Burnley were last night posed with the nightmare question that has haunted them throughout their unexpected bright start to the season - how would they could cope without free-scoring striker Danny Ings in their line-up? 
And against a Watford team enduring a confidence sapping run of six winless games, they discovered just how difficult life is when your 15-goal frontman picks up an injury and you have no replacement.
Ings was forced to sit out the game with an ankle strain picked up in the defeat by Huddersfield on Saturday.

Tackle: Watford's Marco Cassetti (left) and Burnley's Junior Stanislas challenge for the ball

Match facts

Burnley: Heaton 6, Trippier 7, Mee 6, Stock 7, Long 6, Shackell 6, Arfield 7, Jones 7, Vokes 5, Treacy 5 (Kightly 69 5), Stanislas 8 (Hewitt 80)

Subs not used: Lafferty, Cisak, Edgar, Howieson, Dummigan
Watford: Bond 8, Faraoni 5, Ekstrand 5, McGugan 6, Nosworthy 6, Cassetti 5 (Pudil 81), Bellerin 5, Thorne 5, Deeney 7, Battocchio 7, Murray 5 (Fabbrini 75)

Subs not used: Forestieri, Acuna, Hall, Iriney, Woods
Booked: Cassetti

Referee: Michael Naylor 
Attendance: 10,910

And the failure to bring in Bolton's Craig Davies or Millwall's Andy Keogh on loan to partner Sam Vokes looked costly as Burnley were unable to penetrate a nervous looking Watford backline.
With no obvious stand-in, winger Scott Arfield was pushed into a foreign role behind Vokes and the lack of a cutting edge was obvious.
The Hornets were penned back for much of the opening half but despite finding plenty of space to attack in wide positions, keeper Jonathan Bond were only truly stretched on the odd occasion.
Right-back Kieran Trippier was the first to discover Watford were willing to concede territory and his cross was angled towards the far post where Keith Tracey was inches away from touching home.
Watford's defensive frailities were highlighted again when Junior Stanislas' corner bounced in the box and skipped just wide.

Close: Burnley's Sam Vokes missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead

Smiles: Burnley's manager Sean Dyche (right) and Watford manager Gianfranco Zola were happy to see each other

Burnley continued to dominate with Trippier testing Jonathan Bond with a low free-kick and Arfield producing a snap shot that forced the keeper into a sharp stop.
Gianfranco Zola was growing increasingly more animated on the touchline but still the chances kept coming for the Clarets.
Jason Shackell was guilty of heading over when unmarked at a corner and Arfield whipped a shot off target.
When Burnley did find their range, they found Bond a formidable barrier in the visitor's goal.
He reacted superbly to touch away Arfield's powerful header after Stanislas once again profited out wide.
And then had his positioning spot on to hold Keith Tracey's fierce effort at the second attempt. 
Tom Heaton was equally competent when finally tested in the 51st minute by a sharp Lewis McGugan volley from ten yards as Watford began to build some momentum in their play.

Stalemate: Vokes (left) attempts to take the ball round Joel Ekstrand of Watford

Scout: England U21 manager Gareth Southgate (left) was watching the game between Burnley and Watford

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