Match Pack: Watford v Burnley

• Watford v Burnley
• Premier League
• Vicarage Road
• Saturday April 30, 3pm BST

Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Dan Cook, Eddie Smart
Fourth official: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Marc Perry

Also fighting against Premier League relegation, Burnley recently escaped the bottom three after 175 days, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. The Clarets, who recently parted ways with long-serving manager Sean Dyche, have been in inspired form since interim boss Mike Jackson took the reins.

Seven points from three games have lifted the Lancashire side to 17th ahead of a vital game against the Golden Boys this weekend.

• This is both Watford and Burnley’s 300th Premier League match. It’s just the second time two sides are meeting in their 300th game in the competition, after Everton and Tottenham Hotspur in January 2000.

• This is Watford’s 150th home Premier League match at Vicarage Road. After winning their first Premier League home game against Burnley in February 2017, the Hornets are winless in their last three against the Clarets at The Vic (D1 L2).

• Joshua King scored in three of his first four Premier League matches against the Clarets, all for Bournemouth.

• Burnley’s Ashley Barnes has two goals in six Premier League appearances against Watford, with both of his strikes coming at Vicarage Road and both from the penalty spot, in a 2-1 defeat in February 2017 and a 3-0 win in November 2019.

For the full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Burnley In Numbers

Kiko Femenía and Juraj Kucka could return from injury for Watford’s Premier League fixture with Burnley.

The pair both missed last weekend’s trip to Manchester City with minor knocks but have trained this week and are available for selection.

Cucho Hernández continues to recover from a hamstring injury and will certainly miss the Clarets’ visit to Vicarage Road.

Ray Lewington, Watford assistant manager:
“Roy [Hodgson] was unwell last night in the hotel. We came in this morning together and he said to me, 'I'm feeling quite bad at the moment', so the doctor saw him and I think he really just needed a rest. I’m absolutely sure he will be there tomorrow. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but he just felt generally unwell.”

“Tomorrow will be a tough game because Burnley will make it a physically hard game. I’d say that 80 per cent of [Burnley] is still Sean Dyche’s team, but they might have one more pass in the build-up now.

“It’s another example of how football comes up with surprises. They are one of the form teams in the Premier League.

“We are in no doubt that Burnley are always a good side and there is never an easy game against them. They are playing with confidence, but we will have to put that to the back of our mind and try to play our game.”

Mike Jackson, interim Burnley manager:
“We approach this as we have done the last three games. We enjoy the challenge and look at how we can improve. There are things in every game that we can do, five or six key areas.

“We have to focus on those, keep focused and keep everyone aligned in what we’re doing.

“I’m sure we’ll have a good following down there, and it’s just for us about focusing on it, enjoying the challenge but taking it on head on.”

Overall:

Won: 13
Drawn: 11
Lost: 21

Last Six:
February 2020: Burnley 0-0 Watford (Premier League)
June 2020: Burnley 1-0 Watford (Premier League)
November 2019: Watford 0-3 Burnley (Premier League)
January 2019: Watford 0-0 Burnley (Premier League)
August 2018: Burnley 1-3 Watford (Premier League)
April 2018: Watford 1-2 Burnley (Premier League)

First-half goals from Troy Deeney and M'Baye Niang sealed a 2-1 win over Burnley at Vicarage Road in 2017.