NEW Burnley manager Owen Coyle has urged his players to show no fear when they face Championship leaders Watford tonight.

The Clarets boss was buoyed by the performance his new charges gave him on his debut at home to Stoke at the weekend.

And he is confident that if they apply the same work ethics at Vicarage Road, they can do enough to cause the Hornets a second consecutive upset, following their 3-2 defeat at Barnsley.

"I think home or away you've got to look to win games. You're not going to achieve it every game but it doesn't stop you from going in that manner, and that's the way we'll treat it," said former St Johnstone boss Coyle.

"I've been in football long enough as a player, and in coaching and management as well ... we don't fear games.

"We'll give Watford every respect because of how they go about their business and the quality they have but, for me, I always wanted to play against the best players and the best teams, and (tonight) provides that opportunity because Watford, at this moment in time, are the best team in the Championship.

"So this provides us with the opportunity to go and show them we can play a wee bit, and that's what we'll look to do and go there and try to win the game.

"We'll try to get our good players on the ball - we might not be allowed to because Watford might have spells in the game where we can't do that - but we'll certainly keep to trying to achieve that."

And Coyle has stressed the importance of sticking to their own style of play and not allowing the Hornets to dictate.

"Watford are a big strong physical team again but we have to stay true to what we do in passing and playing the ball and keep the movement, and keep believing that's the right way to go about it for Burnley, and if we do that then I'll be pleased," he said.

"I want to go and look to do what we can do in the game and show our style of play.

"Yes, there are going to be times when you are going to be under pressure and you have to stand up and be counted, and that applies from start to front - not just the back lads, the middle of the park, strikers.

"We worked hard to show that on Saturday and we're certainly not afraid to go and put a shift in.

"If we do everything we did on Saturday I'd be delighted. I thought some of our play at times was terrific.

"It will be a similar game to Saturday in many ways but I think, with all due respect to Stoke, Watford are a team that everybody's looking at.

"They know how to win football matches, they've got a style that's effective and they've got some quality players in their team, there's no doubt about that.

"We'll go there, we'll prepare well and we'll be positive in the game and try to take the game to Watford.

"It won't always be possible because of the quality they've got, but it certainly won't be through lack of effort."

He added: "I never got the job because we were top of the league, so if anything else it will give us a chance to guage the quality of the squad.

"I've seen enough to be impressed and we want to take that on and we're up for the challenge.

"It will certainly present that opportunity at Watford - they're not top of the league by accident, they're top of the league on merit.

"It's a great opportunity to show we've got some very good players at Burnley and, indeed, a very good team."

And although Coyle's introduction to his new managerial role is a hectic one, with seven games in 21 days, he insists he wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's fine to be out Monday to Friday doing your training but we're all in football for games. That's what we love," he said.

"Yes you can bee a wee bit apprehensive or nervous before the game because if you didn't have those butterflies in your stomach there'd be something wrong.

"I think we're just desperate to get into games and go and achieve positive results for Burnley."