Burnley moved to the cusp of an immediate return to the Premier League with a 2-1 comeback victory over nine-man Watford at Vicarage Road that was decided in the space of 11 chaotic second-half minutes.
Josh Brownhill’s 14th goal of the Championship season had given the visitors the lead before Watford imploded with midfielders Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe sent off within nine minutes of each other, both for collecting two yellow cards.
Burnley equalled a club record of 30 league games without defeat and Scott Parker’s men know that victory over Sheffield United at Turf Moor on Monday will secure them automatic promotion.
The visitors had entered the game with another record in their sights, hoping to equal Port Vale’s all-time English league record of record of 30 clean sheets set in the 1953-54 season.
That ambition was thwarted in the eighth minute when Rocco Vata sent in a curling cross that was headed home by Mamadou Doumbia in spite of James Trafford’s sprawling effort to keep it out.
The goal kindled a challenge for Watford to become the first side to score two goals against Burnley in a single game this season.
They should have done so in the 23rd minute when Caleb Wiley drove forward and picked out Kayembe with an inviting cross which the midfielder headed wastefully over the bar.
A cagey game exploded into life in the final five minutes before the interval.
First, Marcus Edwards cut inside from the Burnley right and struck a shot on the run that was creeping in at the near post until Egil Selvik plunged to his left to hold it.
If Kayembe had wasted his earlier header, he was desperately unlucky not to increase the home side’s lead after 42 minutes with a rasping, rising drive that shook the Burnley crossbar.
Within 30 seconds Burnley had equalised. A raking CJ Egan-Riley pass to the wing found Jaidon Anthony whose pinpoint cross was headed downwards and in at the near post by Zian Flemming.
The game had been ignited into a free-for-all and Anthony saw a curling effort beaten away by Selvik before Kayembe had another opportunity at the other end.
On this occasion the midfielder tried to place his left-foot shot into the bottom corner only for Trafford to make a superb save.
If the second period began slowly, it erupted in an 11-minute spell around the hour.
Intricate interplay between Edwards and Anthony paved the way for Connor Roberts to float a cross to the far post where Mejbri’s mistimed cross-shot bounced up perfectly for Brownhill to head home.
Burnley’s advantage on the scoreboard was mirrored numerically as the teams lined up for the kick-off.
Flemming gave Sissoko a short push, but nothing that could excuse the Watford captain from putting both hands on the Burnley player’s chest and pushing him forcefully to the ground.
A first yellow card to Sissoko was immediately followed by a second one for dissent.
Kayembe became the second Watford player to receive his marching orders in the space of nine minutes when he clattered into the back of Lucas Pires having been cautioned just three minutes earlier for a foul on Edwards.
With the hosts down to nine men, the contest became increasingly tetchy with the yellow card total rising to 11. Selvik was required to make an astonishing point-blank save to beat away a Brownhill shot before Trafford pushed aside a Ryan Andrews drive in injury time as Watford sought to salvage an unlikely point.
[(Gil Vicente FC) Strength]: 1. Gil Vicente FC finished 13th in the league last season. They aim to avoid relegation and fight for a Conference League spot in the new season. Facing FC Porto, the team are motivated to take points in this home game.2. Gil Vicente FC won the recent two games in a row across all competitions. They won 2-0 over CD Nacional in the last league game, smoothly starting wi...
[(Dynamo Dresden) Neutral]: 1. Both sides have never met before, so there were no records to refer to.[(Dynamo Dresden) Weakness]: 1. As the newly promoted team in the 2. Bundesliga, Dynamo Dresden suffered a losing streak in the first two rounds, being demoralized a lot. Facing 1.FSV Mainz 05 in the first game of the DFB-Pokal at home, the team find it hard to secure a win, indicating doubtful mo...
[(Jaro) Strength]: 1. Jaro are 8th in the table and still need points to secure a Championship play-offs spot, indicating full motivation in this match.2. Forward Kerfala Cissoko scored the winner in the last game, helping his side win.3. Jaro won 2-1 over FC Haka in the last game, securing a 2-game winning streak and showing outstanding recent form.4. Jaro were unbeaten with 1 win and 1 draw in t...
[(SC Preussen Munster) Strength]: 1. In the new season, SC Preussen Munster's 3 goals in two league games were scored by 3 players, showing multiple scorers on offense.2. SC Preussen Munster won 4 of the last 5 home games in AH, boasting a decent home trend.[(SC Preussen Munster) Neutral]: 1. SC Preussen Munster drew 1-1 with SC Paderborn 07 in the last 2. Bundesliga game, showing average performa...
[(Rot-Weiss Essen) Strength]: 1. Rot-Weiss Essen are playing in the 3. Liga this season. Despite their inferior strength to their rivals, the team will still go all out to secure a qualification spot in this home game.2. Tobias Kraulich scored a goal in the last game, showing his outstanding form.3. Rot-Weiss Essen scored 2 goals and conceded 2 in the last 2 competitive games, boasting decent offe...
[(IFK Varnamo) Strength]: 1. IFK Varnamo are at the bottom of the table this season. If they want to avoid relegation, they have to go all out for points in every game, indicating strong motivation in this match.2. Kai Meriluoto scored a goal and made an assist in the last game, helping the team tie with IF Elfsborg.3. IFK Varnamo won the last 2 games in AH, demonstrating recent performances in li...
[(Le Mans) Strength]: 1. Le Mans drew with En Avant Guingamp in the last league game, failing to start with a win. In this home match, they are motivated to secure their first win of the new season.2. William Harhouz scored an equalizer before the end of the last game, helping the team tie with En Avant Guingamp.3. Le Mans secured a 3-game winning streak in recent warm-up games at home, showing de...
[(Mirassol FC) Strength]: 1. Mirassol FC midfielder Gabriel Santana scored a goal in the last league game, performing actively.2. Mirassol FC scored 10 goals in the last 5 league games, averaging 2 goals per game, showing full offense.3. Mirassol FC conceded 5 goals in the last 5 league games, with an average of only 1 goal per game.4. Mirassol FC boast reliable home strength, remaining unbeaten w...
[(Leeds United) Strength]: 1. After relegation, Leeds United returned to the Premier League this season as the EFL Championship winners. The team significantly strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window, with the goal of staying in the Premier League this season. For their opening home game against Everton, they are determined to secure a winning start to the league, showing strong...
[(Elche) Strength]: 1. As the newly promoted team this season, Elche are motivated to start with a home win in their debut.2. In the summer window, Elche signed midfielder Federico Redondo, Real Madrid loan forward Alvaro Rodriguez, and Valencia CF striker German Valera.3. Elche finished 22 wins, 11 draws, and 9 losses in the Segunda Division last season, smoothly being promoted as the 2nd-placed ...
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