Burnley 3 Watford 2

Elliott - scored Burnley's winner.

Burnley edged Watford in a five-goal thriller which saw the home side twice come from behind to seal victory.

The win, the Clarets' third at Turf Moor in seven days, leaves Watford still without a win from the last 12 on their travels.

Will Hoskins fired the away side in to an early lead, but as the home team grew in confidence they forced a penalty from which Graham Alexander levelled the match.

On the stroke of half-time the home defence allowed Hoskins to ghost in for his second.

But Burnley got themselves back on level terms for a second time when Martin Paterson scored just after the break and then Wade Elliott settled an entertaining game with a second-half header.

Watford boss Adrian Bothroyd included loan signings Mark Tyler and Darren Ward in his squad in a bid to soothe the club's injury crisis.

His opposite number Owen Coyle had no such problems and opted to name the same 16 who triumphed over Lancashire rivals Preston at the weekend.

Watford opted to play Hoskins as a lone striker and the decision paid off with only six minutes on the clock.

The Hornets forward managed to shrug Clarets defender Clark Carlisle off the ball before advancing towards goal.

The Burnley defence were far too slow to react and just as the angle looked too tight he slid a weak shot between the legs of the advancing Brian Jensen to give the visitors the lead.

Hoskins very nearly turned provider moments later when he managed to loft a ball into the six-yard box but Carlisle did well to head clear.

Burnley's response was slow in coming but as the home side began to string a few passes together, Chris McCann went close with a left-footed drive from 30-yards which fizzed just wide and then a speculative effort from distance.

The hosts then pulled level in the 25th minute when a Watford defender was adjudged to have handled the ball as a dangerous Elliott cross dropped inside the box.

Scotland international Alexander stepped up and made no mistake from the spot with a powerful right-footed shot.

On the stroke of half-time Watford snatched the lead with Hoskins sliding in to finish what had seemed a harmless ball in to the Burnley box.

Only a minute after the interval, some good work down the right flank and a fine cross saw the ball land at the feet of Paterson.

The Clarets striker still had plenty to do but cleverly managed to engineer himself enough space to rifle the ball beyond Richard Lee and into the top-left corner of the goal.

Following the introduction of Burnley winger Chris Eagles just before the hour mark, Watford went on the defensive.

The Clarets almost took the lead for the first time when Carlisle rose inside the Watford box to head just over.

But the goal finally came in the 69th minute when Eagles sprayed the ball out wide to McCann.

McCann drove to the by-line before crossing for Elliott, who stooped to head home at the back post with a stranded Lee forced to watch the ball hit the back of the net.

Hoskins, on a hat-trick, wasted a free header after the Burnley defence failed to pick him up from a corner but that proved to be the last notable chance of the game.

Teams

Burnley Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander,Elliott (Blake 90), Gudjonsson, McCann, Thompson (Eagles 56),Paterson (Rodriguez 86).

Subs Not Used: Penny, Mahon.

Goals: Alexander 25 pen, Paterson 46, Elliott 69.

Watford Lee, Mariappa, Bromby, Darren Ward, Harley,Eustace (Priskin 79), Williamson (Ainsworth 90), O'Toole,Sadler, Hoskins, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Tyler, DeMerit, Bangura.

Goals: Hoskins 6, 45.

Att: 10,033

Ref: Steve Bratt (W Midlands).