Burnley 1-0 Watford: Scott Arfield strike wins it but controversy dominates as red card, two disallowed goals and denied penalties leave managers incensed

Just the one point between Burnley and the Champions League places but real evidence of their continued rise came via Sean Dyche shortly after full-time.

All well and good sitting on 28 points after 16 matches, but is the target still that magic 40? Surprisingly, the answer was not an emphatic yes. The narrative might well be changing.

‘Look…. it is really, but we’ve got to try and move on,’ Dyche said. ‘The big thing for me is are we moving forward?’


Scott Arfield finished well past Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to give his side the lead in the 45th minute


The Burnley midfielder celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal against Watford in first-half added time


Stephen Ward was the first player to congratulate his Burnley team-mate Arfield following the first goal of the match


Marvin Zeegelaar of Watford looks surprised as he is shown a straight red card by referee Lee Probert after 39 minutes


Zeegelaar puts his head in his hands while Watford team-mates Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure question the referee

Yes they are and by extension 40 points should not now a barometer for success. This was a fifth win in seven. Only the Manchester giants boast better defensive records.

Scott Arfield, in for the stricken Robbie Brady, snatched the winner right on half-time, which cements Burnley in seventh and six points clear of Watford.

‘Professionally we know all the work that is still to be done,’ Dyche added. ‘From a fan point of view it is fantastic to look at it and see how we’re doing.’

This was by no means routine. Marco Silva and the majority of his backroom staff left here incandescent at Probert’s officiating and consider defeat a huge missed opportunity, even after Marvin Zeegelaar’s disputed 39th-minute red card.

Zeegelaar, eyes on the ball, jumped at Steven Defour with both feet. Defour was left in a heap, clutching his ankle, as the offender looked on in astonished bewilderment at Probert reaching for red.


The early parts of the game appeared to be affected by a heavy snow storm making its way across Turf Moor on Saturday


Zeegelaar was shown a red card after flying into a challenge on Burnley's Belgian midfielder Steven Defour


Defour flies in the air after Zeegelaar made contact with the dangerous tackle, which lead to his sending off


Probert had no hesitation in reaching for his red card to reduce the north London side to 10 men in the first half


Defour of Burnley required lengthy treatment from the physio but was able to continue following the challenge

‘Definite red card,’ said Dyche. Silva was on a different page: ‘It’s a harsh, harsh decision. It is not fair.’

Regardless, Watford were behind six minutes later. Silva had reshuffled his pack with left back Jose Holebas introduced and Arfield’s strike was a product of the away side’s confusion.

Richarlison gifted possession away and from there Johann Berg Gudmundsson picked out Arfield at the back post. Arfield zipped past Daryl Janmaat and slithered wide of Heurelho Gomes.

Gomes was seething with Richarlison. Watford were not a happy camp. Silva, who brooded throughout, remonstrated with Probert as they made the long walk over towards Turf Moor’s tunnel, gesticulating at the referee.

‘He didn’t want to speak,’ the Portuguese added. ‘I don’t know why. For me it is clear: they cannot control a normal match with two fair teams.’


Burnley made their numerical advantage count after just six minutes when Arfield finished a well worked team move


Arfield points to the Turf Moor crowd after giving Burnley the lead as the snow continues to fall at Turf Moor on Saturday


Watford manager Marco Silva confront match referee Probert as he makes his way off the pitch following the first half


Watford goalkeeper Gomes puts himself in harms way to clear the ball and clashes with striker Chris Wood in the process


Jack Cork is ruled offside by the linesman after his wide shot was tapped in by his Burnley team-mate Chris Wood


Burnley d