Watford 1-0 Burnley: Tom Cleverley winner preserves Hornets' unbeaten start

Cleverley was forced off injured shortly after putting Watford ahead on the stroke of half-time

Tom Cleverley's winner helped 10-man Watford extend their good start to the Championship season and end Burnley's unbeaten start under Vincent Kompany.

The hosts led with the game's first effort on target just before half-time as Joao Pedro's neat touch freed Ismaila Sarr, whose pull-back found Cleverley to side-foot into the bottom corner.

Josh Brownhill was twice denied by smart saves from Hornets goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann as the Clarets improved after the break.

The hosts lost full-back Hassane Kamara to a straight red card for pulling back Vitinho as he bore down on the penalty area, and Brownhill then turned the Brazilian's cross against the bar, but Watford held out.

Watford were without striker Emmanuel Dennis, who is in talks with Nottingham Forest after the clubs agreed a £20m fee for the Nigerian earlier on Friday, but move top of the table going into Saturday's matches.

Both sides went into the game having made the same start after relegation from the Premier League, following up opening-day 1-0 wins with a 1-1 draw.

And Watford boss Rob Edwards can thank a string of late saves from Austria keeper Bachmann - as well as the woodwork - for continuing his 100% Vicarage Road record.

Burnley boasted 70% possession from their opening two games under Kompany, and again had the lion's share of the ball in a feisty opening, but a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Arijanet Muric almost gift-wrapped an opening for Sarr.

Watford gave a debut to Hamza Choudhury, two days after his move from Leicester, and stepped things up after the mid-half drinks break.

And their improvement was underlined when Cleverley marked his 33rd birthday with a first goal since January 2021, before his celebrations - and match - were cut short by a knee injury picked up in scoring.

Kompany made a double change just after the hour, including a debut for winger Nathan Tella, little more than 24 hours after completing a loan move from Southampton.

Burnley's threat grew as Watford were pushed back, Bachmann twice denying Brownhill and then Luke McNally's side-footed volley deep into stoppage-time.

Having won just two home games last season during their Premier League struggles, Watford have now matched that total just 12 days into their return to the Championship.

Line-ups

Watford

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Bachmann

3Pérez Martínez31Sierralta15Cathcart14Kamara

39Kayembe4Choudhury

23Sarr8Cleverley12Sema

10João Pedro

1Bachmann3Pérez Martínez31Sierralta15Cathcart14KamaraBooked at 81mins39Kayembe4ChoudhurySubstituted forKabaseleat 82'minutes23SarrSubstituted forBayoat 64'minutes8CleverleySubstituted forGoslingat 45'minutes12Sema10João PedroSubstituted forAsprillaat 79'minutesBooked at 88mins

Substitutes

2Ngakia9Manaj16Gosling18Asprilla19Bayo26Hamer27Kabasele

Burnley

Formation 4-3-3

49Muric

14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis3Taylor29Maatsen

24Cullen8Brownhill26Bastien

17Manuel10Barnes44Costelloe

49Muric14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis3Taylor29Maatsen24CullenSubstituted forMcNallyat 90+1'minutes8BrownhillBooked at 85mins26BastienSubstituted forda Silvaat 75'minutes17ManuelSubstituted forTellaat 62'minutes10BarnesSubstituted forRodríguezat 62'minutes44CostelloeSubstituted forCorkat 45'minutes