From losers to bruisers!

FROM losers to lion-hearts in 72 hours!

Because Burnley salvaged their battered and bruised pride at Vicarage Road.

Three days after the sorry debacle of Millmoor, the Clarets turned in a rip-roaring Second Division show.

And Burnley filed out of Vicarage Road with their heads held high.

So will the real Burnley stand up please?

All the qualities and disciplines so badly lacking in South Yorkshire were there in abundance at Watford.

A solid defensive show, craft in midfield and a display of character delivered Adrian Heath's side the desired result.

It was hard to believe it was the same 11 individuals who trooped off the field at Rotherham to boos and cat-calls.

The Clarets' fans should have had their petrol money refunded by the club last weekend after sweating through that pathetic 90 minutes. Yet, collectively, and unlike that sorry tale at Millmoor, this was a performance to savour.

The last line of defence, with Gerry Harrison and Vince Overson flexing their muscles, held out against frenetic Watford pressure.

A fit-again Damian Matthew gave the midfield arena added spice while David Eyres troubled Watford with his forays on the left flank, as he continues to revel in his wing-back role.

All-round, though, it was a show of blood, sweat and toil against a Watford side who will not surrender many points on their own turf this season.

But it was Paul Smith who stole the Burnley headlines.

On the day he agreed a new Turf Moor deal, the 20-year-old midfield ace bagged his first senior goal for the Clarets.

And what a strike it was. For two minutes, at least, it seemed destined to book Burnley their first league away win since Luton Town on the opening day of the campaign.

But let's savour his special moment.

There was just quarter of an hour remaining when Smith picked up the ball on the half-way line.

A swift interchange with Paul Barnes, and Smith began his charge on the Watford goal.

Electric pace gave Smith the momentum and, racing to the edge of the Watford danger zone, he finished a 40-yard run with an exquisite left-footed shot.

"It was a lovely goal and a good finish," purred Heath.

"He kept his place in the side recently and we said to him this week that he'd have to start contributing with goals. Now he's done that. "We've got high hopes for the boy and we think he's got a lot of ability.

"He's a shy lad and he will need time to develop. But he showed with that goal what sort of ability he has."

Smith got off the mark with a strike against Glentoran in the pre-season tour to Northern Ireland, but this was his first in the rough and tumble of the Nationwide League.

And it's one he will remember for the rest of his career.

Burnley, in fact, had gone ahead, largely against the run of play.

After a tame start, Watford turned up the heat and the visitors had to work overtime to keep out worthy efforts from Darren Bazeley and the impressive Wayne Andrews.

The Burnley goal was well worth the wait, though. The clever build-up was swift and precise.

It began with a raking cross-field ball from Damian Matthew to David Eyres. The wing-back broke clear on the overlap, firing in a centre which caused panic in the Watford defence.

Leading scorer Kurt Nogan got a vital touch and skipper Nigel Gleghorn did the rest, planting a well struck shot past a shocked Kevin Miller.

It was Burnley's first goal on their away travels in the league since Nogan's strike at Millwall on the last day of August.

But it was a lead which was shortlived as Watford forced their way back into the picture five minutes before half-time.

Richard Johnson carved out the opportunity for Nigel Gibbs.

The Watford defender saw his opportunity, unleashing a stinging 40-yard shot which Marlon Beresford could only parry away.

The rebound fell kindly in the path of Andrews who smashed home a close range shot. It was game on. David Eyres had a shot deflected, while the arrival of the unlikely named Gifton Noel-Williams opened up Watford's attacking options.

Twice the 16-year-old, playing only his second game, caused major problems for Burnley, providing pin-point centres for Tommy Mooney and Steve Palmer.

But they were wasted and Paul Smith's strike put Burnley in touching distance of victory.

But the Clarets were to be denied.

Richard Johnson's 25-yard shot dipped into the top corner for Watford to take a share of the spoils.

It was a satisfactory result for Burnley. But, more importantly, a night when they restored their professional pride.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.