Report: Burnley 2-1 Watford

• Defeat on the road for the Hornets
• Watford trail 1-0 after poor first-half showing 
• Improvements in second half after moving to back five, but second Burnley goal proves key
• Baah's late goal puts pressure on Burnley, but Clarets recompose themselves and see game out

Watford fell to a first defeat in seven Sky Bet Championship matches despite Kwadwo Baah's late volley setting up a tense finale in the 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing Burnley at Turf Moor.

Jaidon Anthony's volley gave the hosts the lead early on in a first half completely dominated by Scott Parker's side, before Josh Brownhill doubled the advantage midway through the second half.

Baah's powerful first-time finish 10 minutes from time meant the Hornets sensed an opportunity, but despite a much better showing after the goal, the equaliser remained elusive.

On a blustery afternoon in the north west, Tom Cleverley made two changes, bringing in Yasser Larouci and Pierre Dwomoh, with James Morris dropping to the bench and Imrân Louza missing out due to illness.

The Head Coach opted to start with a back four, and as the attacking formation suggested, his side started on the front foot, although they failed to fashion a clear-cut opportunity.

Burnley were able to recover quickly thanks largely to their combative midfield trio, with Zian Flemming firing a free-kick over with their first opportunity.

The hosts then really took hold of the game, and broke the deadlock soon after.

A storming run down the left from Josh Brownhill allowed the Clarets captain to send a cross towards the back post, where good work from Flemming to hold off Ryan Porteous meant Anthony was unmarked.

The on-loan Bournemouth forward hit his volley first time, bouncing the ball off the ground en route to the back of the net.

The Hornets then struggled to gain a foothold in the game, with Burnley's press causing constant pressure on the few occasions Watford did actually have the ball.

The Clarets dominated possession, and went close to doubling their lead with Dan Bachmann saving from Josh Laurent before a solo run from Hannibal resulted in a shot that went just wide with the Watford keeper rooted to the spot.

After withstanding the intense pressure from Burnley, the Golden Boys did manage to create some half-chances.

Rocco Vata saw a promising curling effort blocked, before a Jeremy Ngakia cross that was taken by the wind forced James Trafford to scramble back into position to prevent an embarassing equaliser.

However, the hosts had a final chance in a first half that they dominated, with Flemming's shot from just inside the box proving too high. 

Burnley then continued where they left off after the interval despite Cleverley resorting to a back five by bringing on Francisco Sierralta for Vata, with Anthony blazing a shot over the bar within a minute of the restart.

Watford were eventually able to enjoy more possession than they did in the first half as the rain got heavier and heavier in Lancashire, but it was the Clarets who made the most of having the ball at their feet.

The Hornets' defenders couldn't get close to some quick passing in and around the edge of the box, with the space eventually created for Brownhill to lean back and curl an inch-perfect effort into the top-left corner from just inside the area. 

The visitors had a great chance to halve the deficit almost immediately when Chakvetadze lofted a free-kick into the box that Sierralta's outstretched boot connected with, but Trafford was on hand with a good reaction save.

Bachmann then made a good save from a Flemming effort just outside the box, before Baah sent a hopeful shot from a similar distance just wide of the far corner as Watford searched for a way back into the game.

The Hornets then did get the goal they needed, through the same source. Burnley failed to cleared a Chakvetadze corner, with Baah on hand to fire home the loose ball first-time on the volley and into the top corrner to halve the deficit.

Suddenly, Watford looked like a different side, putting the pressure on the hosts despite the game being mainly one-way traffic in Burnley's favour.

Substitute Ryan Andrews just couldn't get his foot around a deep cross as five minutes of stoppage time was announced, with the wing-back then sending a hopeful effort into row Z after Trafford punched away a free-kick in added time.

Some good game management from Burnley killed any Watford momentum, and with it, any hope of a leveller as the hosts took the points.

Watford: Bachmann; Ngakia (Andrews 59), Porteous, Pollock, Larouci (Ebosele 59); Dwomoh (Kayembe 83), Sissoko (C); Baah, Chakvetadze, Vata (Sierralta HT); Bayo (Jebbison 70).

Unused subs: Bond, Morris, Ogbonna, Ince.