Burnley vs Watford. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance18,519.
Monday 26 September 2016 19:56, UK
Free-scoring Watford will look to continue their remarkable upturn in form when they travel to Burnley for the Monday Night Football fixture.
Walter Mazzarri's side have recorded crushing back-to-back victories since the September international break, beating West Ham 4-2 at the London Stadium before dispatching Manchester United 3-1 last weekend.
It's been an incredible turnaround from the Hornets, who had started the season slowly under their new boss, picking up just two points from their opening four games and adding to fears that last season's mid-table finish could have been just a blip.
But Monday's trip to Burnley will give Mazzarri's side a chance to add to their impressive goal tally, with the hosts having a -5 goal difference just five games into the campaign.
Burnley have no new injury concerns, with the likes of Sam Vokes, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Patrick Bamford and Jon Flanagan angling for promotion from the bench.
Hamstring victim Ashley Barnes is the only notable absentee.
Watford will be without defender Daryl Janmaat. The Holland international suffered a shoulder injury in Watford's impressive 3-1 victory against Manchester United and could be sidelined for six weeks.
Defender Jose Holebas is also an injury doubt for the Hornets, while a number of other players will be evaluated over the coming days to determine their fitness for the trip to Turf Moor.
This will be the first ever top-flight meeting between Burnley and Watford.
Five of the last six league meetings between these sides have ended level (Watford winning the other), including each of the last four.
The Clarets are unbeaten in their last eight home league meetings with Watford (W4 D4), since a 2-3 defeat in April 2004.
Watford have had the oldest starting XI on average in the opening five matchdays of the 2016-17 Premier League season (29y 281d).
Burnley boss Sean Dyche managed Watford between June 2011 and July 2012, taking charge of 49 games in all competitions, winning 17 of these (34.7%).
The Clarets have conceded just five goals in their last 16 home league games, and never more than once in a match in that time.
Watford are scoring goals and doing brilliantly after a sticky start.
Etienne Capoue is taking the pressure off Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney by chipping in with goals, and Walter Mazzarri has done a superb job so far.
Burnley would have probably highlighted this game at the start of the season as a must-win home match but it's a difficult one for them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)
