Burnley came unstuck in the Championship at Vicarage Road, with Watford gifted a 3-1 victory over the Clarets.

Steve Cotterill's men were already injury ravaged before the game, but were undone when s couple of suspect decisions from the officials added to the woe particularly for the third goal for Watford, who could have been reduced to 10 men in the first half.

With both Wayne Thomas and John McGreal only named as substitutes, the Clarets had to make a few changes to their line-up with Micah Hyde filling in at right back whilst Michael Duff and Frank Sinclair played together in the centre of defence.

Karl Bermingham was given a League debut on the right of midfield too, as the Clarets looked to have taken their hosts by surprise.

The Clarets came close in the early stages too, when Garreth O'Connor's seventh minute free kick from 25 yards bounced off the defensive wall straight to his namesake James. He struck a first time shot at goal, but Ben Foster made a good save low to his left.

The home side went in front just four minutes later though, when Malky Mackay knocked a long ball over the top. Burnley didn't cut it out and Marlon King latched onto it and made no mistake by driving a low shot past Brian Jensen and into the bottom corner.

Burnley didn't have to wait long before drawing level though, as Ade Akinbiyi was sent clear through the middle. He drew Ben Foster out of his goal, who could only trip the striker in the box for a penalty. The Watford fans were incensed, but having knocked the ball past the Hornets keeper there was no doubt about the decision although the referee chose not to send off Foster when he was the last man.

After some petty squabbling from both Mackay and Jordan Stewart on the edge of the box, Garreth O'Connor stepped up to make no mistake and send Foster the wrong way to bring the teams level.

Akinbiyi had another half chance in the 22nd minute when he burst through the middle. He held off the challenge of James Chambers, but Foster made a good save to deny him.

Burnley were dealt another serious blow two minutes later, when Frank Sinclair was stretchered off after going down on the edge of the area. He was replaced by Kyle Lafferty, meaning Burnley had to make another reshuffle with Graham Branch joining Duff in central defence and Chris McCann playing at left back.

Watford sensed an opening and they re-took the lead after 30 minutes, when the ball was worked across midfield well before Gavin Mahon's shot took a cruel deflection off Branch over Jensen and into the goal.

The home side had their tails up by now and spent the rest of the first half attacking the Clarets and enjoying plenty of possession as they searched for a third goal.

It didn't arrive though and Burnley had chance to re-group at the break ahead of the second half.

Watford started the second half as they ended the first by attacking the Clarets, but it was Burnley who came closest to getting a goal when Hyde struck a fierce drive at goal which Foster did well to tip over the bar.

Foster then made another good save to deny Akinbiyi, after he turned sharply onto Lafferty's flick-on to shoot at goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, Foster reacted well to make the stop.

James O'Connor then tried his luck with a low left footer, but he didn't find the power he would have wanted and Foster had an easy save to make.

Watford were let off the hook somewhat soon after when Foster tried to claim a Garreth O'Connor corner but got nowhere near. Luckily for the Hornets, the ball fell to King and he was able to clear the danger.

Burnley continued to press and Branch was unfortunate when he struck a 25 yarder at goal only for Foster to get behind it again and make a save.

A good move in the 82nd minute saw James O'Connor play a ball through for McCann down the left and his driven cross picked out Bermingham at the far post, but his left foot shot was blocked and the danger cleared.

Watford went straight down to the other end after that and increased their lead, again in contentious circumstances. A long ball over the top was contested between Jensen and Darius Henderson and the Clarets goalkeeper came out the worse after appearing to receive an elbow in the throat.

Watford played on though and Henderson squared the ball across goal and when it was worked back into the danger zone, debutant Matthew Spring slotted into an open goal.

Jensen became the second player carried off on a stretcher before being replaced by Danny Coyne with just a few minutes of the game remaining.

Watford: Foster, Chambers, Stewart (Doyley, 65) Mackay, Carlisle, Mahon, King, Devlin, Blizzard, Young (Spring, 65) Henderson. Subs not used: Chamberlain, Bouazza, McNamee.

Burnley: Jensen (Coyne, 86) Sinclair (Lafferty, 24) Duff, James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch, Akinbiyi, Noel Williams, McCann, Garreth O'Connor, Bermingham. Subs not used: Thomas, McGreal, Yates.

Bookings: Gavin Mahon (foul) 25 minutes, Ade Akinbiyi (persistent fouling) 45 minutes, Micah Hyde (foul) 51 minutes, Ashley Young (diving) 53 minutes, Matthew Spring (foul) 77 minutes,

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