Made to measure

However, Graham's chances of writing another promotion chapter to Watford's colourful recent history were diminished by his namesake in a Burnley shirt as Gareth sewed up the battle of the Taylors with his first goal for the Clarets.

The on-loan striker ended Burnley's near five-month winless streak on the road by punishing some dozy defending 17 minutes from the end.

It was no more than the Clarets deserved for a positive performance in which they looked more like the home side for long periods.

That may have been the secret to ending the away-day hoodoo as Stan Ternent's side banished the memory of their limp performances at Grimsby and Portsmouth to secure a third win in five games that leaves them seven points behind sixth-placed Nottingham Forest with two games in hand.

With Ternent employing John Mullin as a third front player to match Watford's forward-thinking formation, Burnley took the fight to the play-off hopefuls.

With attack the best form of defence, the ploy kept Watford on the back foot for long spells.

And when the hosts did reverse the roles they found the Clarets' defence back to something like its best -- a fact not lost on match-winner Taylor.

He said: "It was a great result. All over the pitch we went out with the right attitude and like I said earlier in the week if we put ourselves to it like we did tonight and against Fulham we're hard to beat.

"The manager went out with a positive formation. John Mullin came into the team and had a great game and defensively we were superb.

"The back four and Nik and the two lads in midfield had great games. It's all right scoring goals at one end but having a clean sheet away from home is superb.

"The fans got behind Watford and they were looking to get back into the game after we scored but defensively we were superb."

Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos was rarely extended, saving once from Tommy Mooney early in the game and then smoothly dealing with a couple of long range efforts towards the end when Watford pressed for an equaliser.

For all their slick approach play Burnley didn't test opposing keeper Espen Baardsen enough either.

But crucially breaching his defences just once was enough to claim all three points when Taylor pounced on a cross from Paul Weller after Watford defender Darren Ward had hesitated fatally.

Taylor gratefully nipped in to squeeze the ball home and underline his value to the cause since his arrival from Maine Road.

"I was just chuffed. I haven't really been worrying about it but it is nice to get off the mark," said the Welsh international, who has now tasted victory three times inside his first month's stay.

"But the important thing really is the result," he added. "It sticks us back up to tenth and ends a barren spell of away form, so I hear.

"It's okay winning games at home and having okay home form but you need to be picking up points away from home. Speaking to a few of the lads they say they have been unlucky away from home, they have been playing well but not picking up the results.

"And this isn't an easy place to come, so it's brilliant."

Watford had gone into the game on the back of their best performance of the season in beating Norwich City 4-1 and with high hopes that they had checked a run of of just one win in seven games.

However, they were swiftly reminded of their manager's words that Burnley wouldn't make it easy as Mullin quickly set about them.

Seizing the chance of a starting slot, Mullin sprinted down both flanks and darted into the middle alongside Taylor and Ian Moore and within four minutes had almost set up an opener for Moore.

With Paul Weller and Mitchell Thomas combining well down the right wing Watford lived dangerously at the back at times only to be let off the hook by Burnley's inability to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.

Playing on the break, Watford looked to skipper Mooney for inspiration and he had two of the better efforts of the first 45 minutes, while half-chances for Taylor and the excellent Weller came to nought at the other end.

In an open game both sides had periods of superiority after the break and Espen Baardsen was called into action three times to save from Lee Briscoe, Moore and Taylor as Burnley pressed for the advantage.

Kevin Ball's superb tackle on Allan Neilsen then stopped Watford wresting the initiative away from the Clarets and the deadlock was finally broken when Weller collected a throw-in, skipped clear of the defence again and crossed for Taylor to score at the far post.

Rewinding to the early part of the season when they carved out a lead and then made sure they'd keep it, Burnley knuckled down to repel the Watford fightback.

With Steve Davis and his defensive allies standing firm, the Hornets were rarely allowed in the danger zone.

Several players tried their luck from distance and when Neilsen fired through a crowd of players 10 minutes from time there was momentary concern.

But with Michopoulos calmly pouching the ball he safeguarded a win that breathes fresh life into Burnley's season with another corner potentially turned.