Watford manager Malky Mackay admitted that Dale Bennett’s own goal that sent Burnley on their way to victory at Vicarage Road was a freak incident.

The Clarets were helped on their way by a comical Bennett own goal and, although Danny Graham wiped out the deficit before the break, second-half goals from Chris Eagles and Chris Iwelumo wrapped up the points.

The unfortunate mishap came about when goalkeeper Scott Loach smashed a clearance into the back of his defender, with the ball looping into the Hornets net.

“I’ve never seen a goal like that - a bizarre goal we lost in the first half,” he said.

“That apart, I have to be happy with the number of one-on-ones we created with their goalkeeper, but we’ve got to be more clinical in their box and our box.

“Chris Eagles’ goal was the first shot they had on goal in the game at that point.

“So on another day we win that game because we’ve got enough chances to win two games, but we didn’t and that’s something we’ve got to make sure we pick ourselves up from.

“We’re still creating chances and that’s why I’ve got to make sure I instil into them that belief. We are creating chances and had got the chance to win the game.

“I think if you look at chance on our goal, even going back to Brighton and Palace, then there have been one or two shots on goal – we’ve got to be resilient and put the ball in the opposition net a bit more.”

The 38-year-old Scot also expressed his anger at Danny Fox’s tackle on Will Buckley in the second half, which only led to a yellow card for the former Celtic man.

“I thought it was an outrageous challenge. I asked my physio which ankle was it and he said both,” Mackay said.

“I looked at it from here and it looked a dreadful challenge. I’ve seen challenges that are 10 times less ferocious than that be sent off.

“I’ve looked at it on DVD - it’s even worse. I asked the referee and he says ‘maybe I was too close to the incident and if I got it wrong then I hold my hands up’, but for me that’s unacceptable.”