Glen Little's strike after two minutes was enough to earn the Clarets all three points against Watford, his sixth strike of the season, already a personal best.

But while he can celebrate, Ian Moore must reflect on another frustrating match in front of goal when he ran his socks off but failed to score for the 11th game in succession.

Twice he was denied by good saves from Alec Chamberlain, once he could have won a penalty, countless times he chased lost causes and harassed defenders.

But no matter what he tried the confidence boosting goal would not come.

At least he has little doubt that his manager is backing his ability to start finding the net. He has been a permanent fixture in the league side, one of only three ever presents alongside Paul Cook and Nik Michopoulos.

As it was the failure of Moore and co to add to Little's lovely goal meant there were a few nervous moments as they finally closed out the deserved victory.

"We had a fantastic start and scored a really good goal," said manager Stan Ternent. "It was well worked and Glen slid it away."

Slid is just about right. Sometimes forwards seem to think that if their shot is not bursting the onion bag it is not a worthwhile effort but Little showed that precision is more important than power.

Pressure from Moore forced the Hornets to concede possession to Dean West on the right. He knocked the ball inside to Paul Weller who rolled a pass behind the defender to let Little in on goal.

The one thing that has been lacking from Little in the past has been goals but the way he curled a delightful left foot shot beyond Chamberlain and in off the post would have thrilled any proven goalscorer.

Watford manager Gianluca Vialli falls into that category and while he felt it was a cheap goal to give away he is aware of Little's talent.

"I can't judge him on tonight's performance because I was concentrating on my players but everyone knows he is a good player," said the former Juventus and Chelsea star.

Mind you, if he was only concentrating on his players he missed a treat in the first half as the Clarets produced some great football that really ought to have brought more goals and a larger cushion.

Especially for the first half hour Burnley dominated the match and they should have had the game won. After the tonic of Little's early opener they poured forward and created a number of good chances.

Gareth Taylor, normally so deadly in the air, somehow headed over from five yards after Ian Cox nodded on Weller's corner.

It would have made it four in four for the big man, the sort of run his strike partner Moore must be dreaming of.

At least unlike in recent games he did have a coupe of chances in the opening stages, the first created by another Arthur Gnohere adventure. His surge ended with a ball to Moore on the edge of the box, he combined with Taylor but watched in agony as keeper Chamberlain turned the ball behind.

His second opportunity was all his own work as a sharp turn on the edge of the box preceded a disappointing shot wide of the right hand post.

Little's cross caused danger, Tony Grant saw a shot blocked and endless attacks rained down on the away goal.

But the warning signs were there as Heidar Helguson twice wasted chances to level around the half hour mark. Michopoulos had already been forced to make a good save to deny Paolo Vernazza but he should have had no chance when the ball broke to Helguson three yards out.

Luckily for the home side he blasted the ball over and minutes later he wasted another chance when allowing Michopoulos to dive at his feet when the impressive Tommy Smith was waiting for a pull back.

The match had fewer incidents after the break but Vernazza could again have done better when getting a clear sight of goal in the opening moments of the half.

But still it was the home side that had the better moments, Little's cross being headed over the bar and West's ball in being taken almost off Moore's head as he looked certain to score.

By then he had been foiled again by Chamberlain after hitting a shot from outside the box and seen loud penalty appeals turned down after he tumbled to the ground as Paul Robinson ran across his path.

It was a tough call for the referee but he looked to get it about right although there were some increasingly strange decisions as the match wore on.

Perhaps the cold on Turf Moor's chilliest night of the season to date was getting to him.

One man who did not seem too worried about the weather was Gnohere. Ternent knows he has got a cult hero on his hands and he clearly enjoys his forward forays as much as the home fans.

His pace and power seem to allow him to beat men and get to balls that he appears to have no right to reach. Defenders may think they have the situation under control but Gnohere somehow comes up trumps.

He was even seen to use his right foot on one occasion to make a clearance - and that doesn't happen often.

He has struck up a great understanding with Ian Cox and the pair can have no greater compliment that to say the absence of skipper Steve Davis has not been felt as they have conceded just one lucky goal in the last three games.

A lucky goal is just what Moore needs, one that goes in off his knee, his backside or off anywhere.

What he can't do is give any more effort and hopefully he will get his rewards at Coventry on Saturday. BURNLEY...1 Scorer: Little 2 WATFORD...0 Attendance...13,152