BURNLEY suffered a third straight defeat after surrendering a 2-0 lead at Watford.

The Clarets went in front just before the break when Jay Rodriguez reached 20 goals for the season with a superb finish one-on-one with goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

The top scorer struck in the 41st minute after reacting quickly when Adrian Mariappa's header back Kuszczak dropped short.

Rodriguez chested the ball down on the edge of the D, moved into the box and fired home the first from around 12 yards out.

After Michael Duff was replaced by Brian Easton at the break, Burnley doubled their lead five minutes into the second half courtesy of an own goal.

Nyron Nosworth climbed to meet Ross Wallace's inswinging free kick from the right but headed into his own net.

The defender made amends by beginning the fightback four minutes later, heading in a Sean Murray corner, before the equaliser came with less than 20 minutes to go.

Ross Wallace was unlucky to skim the bar with a free kick. Watford moved the ball up to the other end from the goal kick, and from a quick throw-in substitute Alex Kacaniklic levelled.

A third goal in 20 minutes completed the Hornets' comeback, as Troy Deeney stabbed home from close range when Burnley failed to deal with a corner.

Rodriguez was denied an equaliser and his second of the afternoon by Kuszczak's diving save.