MARLON Beresford returned to Turf Moor a hero and after last night's heroics his status as a claret and blue legend is even more assured.

His 67th minute penalty save did not just turn the course of the match, it might prove to be a vital turning point in the season.

Five minutes later substitute Ian Cox levelled and in the third minute of stoppage Paul Weller netted the winner, converting from six inches for the easiest strike of his career - and the most important.

Having dropped out of the top six three days earlier they have bounced straight back to fifth and made the first of their games in hand count. A run of five league games without a win had been halted an the celebrations on the bench, on the pitch and among the travelling fans showed how much the goal meant. Suddenly the promotion bandwagon was rolling again.

The crucial moment was that penalty stop. Burnley trailed 1-0 at the time and when Cox was adjudged to have tugged back Gifton Noel-Williams in the box, referee Matt Messias pointed to the spot.

Marcus Gayle stepped up knowing that success would surely condemn the Clarets to another defeat but he reckoned without magic Marlon.

In his six seasons for the Clarets in the 90s he developed a reputation as a fantastic saver of penalties and once again he came up with the goods. He dived to his left and not only stopped but held Gayle's tame effort.

If Sven Goran Eriksson wanted to take an expert keeper to come on and face a penalty shoot-out, he should look no further than the on loan keeper. His ability is incredible, his knack for guessing the right way uncanny.

"Marlon Beresford is good at penalty saving," admitted Stan Ternent who brought the 32-year-old back to Turf Moor last week as cover for the injured Nik Michopoulos.

"But it was only justice because it was never a penalty. We were playing against ten men tonight," he fumed as the Clarets had earlier been denied a penalty appeal by Mr Messias when Lee Briscoe appeared to be pulled down in the Watford box.

But the stage was now set for the Clarets to get back into the game and in the 72nd minute they struck their first league goal of 2002, save for Gareth Taylor's penalty against Sheffield Wednesday.

It was Briscoe who created the leveller, his fierce 25-yard free kick smashing against the inside of the post and the rebound being hammered home by a delighted Cox.

He has been dropped to the bench by Ternent after some uncertain displays but had come on for Gareth Taylor a few minutes earlier, picking the perfect moment to break his duck for the season.

A touch of class from Blake should have seen Glen Little give the Clarets the lead seven minutes later when his control and pass put him through on goal but he dragged a left foot shot wide as it scraped the post.

It could have proved a costly miss if Gayle had headed home in the 90th minute from the home side's first corner of the night but deep into stoppage time Burnley won it.

They broke from deep in their own half as Little picked out sub Brad Maylett on the halfway line. The youngster had only been on the pitch a few minutes but his impact was immense. He surged down the right, taking on Filippo Galli and whipping in the type of cross Ternent had been urging his players to produce all night.

Briscoe challenged for the ball forcing Wayne Brown to divert it towards his own goal and leaving Weller with the simplest of opportunities to score his second goal of the season. Watford boss Gianluca Vialli claimed it was an own goal but having run the length of the pitch to get there, no one will be able to take it off the fit again midfielder.

Earlier it had looked like being another night of frustration for Ternent who had seen his side dominate the early possession but go behind to a quality goal.

In the 20th minute Glen Little and Ian Moore had linked well down the left and the striker curled a right foot shot just wide but four minutes later the visitors trailed to a mirror image goal.

Micah Hyde threaded Jermaine Pennant in behind Branch down the left, he cut inside and bent a lovely left foot shot beyond Beresford's dive and into the corner of the net.

The on-loan Arsenal star was starting to have a bit of joy against Branch at left back and after the Burnley man let him in again Ternent quickly hauled him off to make way for Robbie Blake.

Lee Briscoe was given the task of curbing the England under-21 international and Blake joined Taylor in attack with Moore dropping out to the right side of midfield.

Blake may not have been considered fit enough to start but after the disappointment of another fitful first half display he was a central figure in the improvement that came after the break.

What Ternent told his men over the half time cuppa may remain a secret but it was a different Burnley side that came out for the second half. They had forced a number of corners in the first half but all the best chances had fallen to Watford, Pennant, Noel-Williams and Gayle all having a sight of goal.

But Burnley, with Kevin Ball as the fourth captain of the season hung in there and started to turn things around in the second period. Moore produced some turbo charged runs to frighten the opposing defenders, Blake twinkled, turned and twisted and Little showed he is getting back to full fitness.

The drama then unfolded in the final quarter as what looked like certain defeat turned into thrilling victory. It was the perfect boost for everyone at the club ahead of the two trips to South Yorkshire in the nest few days.

But having halted the slide, the message must be - bring on Barnsley and Rotherham!

RESULT:

WATFORD...1

Scorer: Pennant 24

BURNLEY...2

Scorers: Cox 72, Weller 90

Attendance... 12,160

At Vicarage Road