Watford vs Burnley. Premier League.
Vicarage RoadAttendance20,178.
Saturday 4 February 2017 14:04, UK
Burnley will look to rectify their miserable record away from home when they travel to face Watford on Saturday.
Sean Dyche's men have taken just one point on the road this season - only Rotherham have won as few away points in the top four divisions this season.
Burnley have won 28 of their 29 points at home, which includes a 2-0 victory over Watford in the corresponding fixture this season.
Walter Mazzarri's men have only won one of their last eight Premier League games (D3 L4) but that victory came in midweek at the Emirates where they stunned Arsenal 2-1.
Mauro Zarate could make his Watford debut.
The Argentina forward joined the Hornets from Fiorentina a week ago but had to serve a suspension following his sending off in a Coppa Italia tie. Defender Jose Holebas is also available after completing his two-game ban for collecting 10 bookings.
On-loan AC Milan frontman M'Baye Niang could again start having impressed in the midweek win at Arsenal, but defender Christian Kabasele (hamstring) will be assessed while goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon (leg) remains out.
Robbie Brady and Ashley Westwood could make their Burnley debuts.
Wide man Brady - the Clarets' record signing - and midfielder Westwood both joined the Turf Moor outfit on transfer deadline day, arriving from Norwich and Aston Villa respectively.
Steven Defour came off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the 1-0 win over Leicester that evening, and Dyche says "it could be beyond a couple of weeks" in terms of how long the midfielder might be out for.
This will be the first ever top-flight meeting between Watford and Burnley at Vicarage Road.
Burnley have lost only once in their last nine league games against Watford (W3 D5), losing 3-2 in March 2012 at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets have bagged exactly three goals in four of their last seven home games against the Clarets, netting one in each of the other three.
Troy Deeney has scored in each of his three league appearances against Burnley at Vicarage Road.
Burnley have won just one point in their 10 Premier League away games this season (W0 D1 L9) and scored just four goals in these matches.
This is the sixth time in Premier League history that a team have won just one point or fewer in their first 10 away games of a season - each of the previous five teams have been relegated at the end of that campaign (incl. Burnley in 09/10).
Only one team in Premier League history has been relegated with 29 or more points after 23 games - Norwich in 1994/95. It has therefore never occurred when the Premier League has comprised 20 teams.
The Hornets are unbeaten in their last five home Premier League matches against newly-promoted sides (W2 D3) without conceding a single goal.
Tom Cleverley has assisted in consecutive Premier League games - he has never done so in three consecutive games. Similarly, no Watford player has ever assisted in three consecutive Premier League games.
Since a 3-3 draw at Newcastle in January 2015, Burnley have netted only eight goals in 19 away Premier League games and never more than once in that time.
As poor as Arsenal were against Watford, Mazzarri's side were excellent at the Emirates. They came flying out of the traps, catching Arsenal cold and they deserved the victory. However, I'm expecting this to be a difficult game for Watford.
Much has been made of Burnley's home form compared to their away form, but more recently they've put in some better performances on the road. If they keep that up they'll pick up a win sooner or later and I expect it to be this weekend at Vicarage Road.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Burnley are outsiders at 13/5 as they look to pick up their first away win of the Premier League season at Watford, who are 11/10 to follow up their Arsenal upset with another three-point haul.
The draw is 23/10, with 1-1 the 9/2 favourite in the correct score market, while the Clarets to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 is priced at 100/30. The Hornets' Troy Deeney just about edges favouritism in the first-scorer betting at 11/2, with Burnley's Andre Gray considered most likely for the visitors.
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