Watford 1-2 Burnley: Hornets have two sent off in defeat

The Hornets took an early lead through Mamadou Doumbia and had a great chance to extend it when Edo Kayembe headed over from inside the six-yard box.

Moments after Kayembe had struck the bar from distance, Burnley equalised through Zian Flemming before Josh Brownhill gave them the lead in the second half.

Referee Matt Donohue then took centre stage, sending off Moussa Sissoko and Kayembe in quick succession as the game became increasingly bad tempered and littered with cards.

Here are five talking points we’ve picked out from a dramatic contest. Tell us what you think by using the comments facility on this page.

Double trouble

Watford’s hopes of taking something from this game effectively ended in a crazy ten-minute spell immediately after Burnley had taken the lead.

Having been booked, captain Sissoko was shown a second yellow for needlessly reacting to a Flemming shove at the kick-off.

That dismissal was compounded when Kayembe, having also been booked, was also shown a second yellow minutes later for a foul on Lucas Pires.

What was your view of the red cards?

A numerical disadvantage

Down to nine men and with 20 minutes plus stoppages still to play, the Hornets' hopes appeared to be over.

However, they restricted Burnley to very few good chances and almost snatched an unlikely point deep into injury times when Ryan Andrews forced James Trafford into a fine save with a shot from the edge of the area.

What did you make of Watford’s performance after the dismissals?

A home and away rarity

When Doumbia headed the hosts into an eighth-minute lead, it meant Watford became only the second club – after Norwich City – to score home and away against the Clarets this season.

In doing so, the Hornets scored only the 14th goal their opponents have conceded during a Championship campaign in which they have kept 29 clean sheets.

How impressed were you with Watford’s attacking display?

Staying concentrated

Watford almost doubled their lead in the first half when Kayembe hit the woodwork for a third game running with a long-range shot, but the hosts were still wondering what might have been when Burnley equalised.

Keeper Trafford rolled the ball out to CJ Egan-Riley, he advanced before spreading the ball out to Jaidon Anthony on the left and his cross picked out Flemming, who got in between Mattie Pollock and James Abankwah, to equalise.

What was your view of Burnley’s leveller?

First-half positives

There was a lot to like about Watford’s display in the opening 45 minutes.

They scored a very good goal, had opportunities to go further ahead and played some effective football against one of the top sides in the division.

What did you make of the Hornets’ first-half performance.

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