A RESILIENT second half performance from 10-man Burnley wasn’t enough to see them improve on their away record this season.

The Clarets still only have one point on their travels but after a nightmare start against Watford they could have grabbed something out of the game late on.

It was the worst possible start for Burnley who were a man and a goal down inside 10 minutes.

Jeff Hendrick was given a straight red card just seven minutes in for a reckless challenge on Jose Holebas on the halfway line, going over the top of the ball in his attempts to win it, and giving Michael Oliver little option but to show him a red card.

As Burnley looked to regroup an uphill was task was made even steeper when M’Baye Niang’s cross was headed home from close range by Troy Deeney.

Burnley’s threats in the first half were few and far between, with Joey Barton’s 25-yard free-kick, tipped over by Heurelho Gomes, the only time they tested the Hornets goalkeeper.

Getting in at half-time just a goal behind might have given the Clarets the chance to regroup but they were hit with a sucker punch in first-half stoppage time.

Watford were given time on the ball to craft an attack which ended with Holebas’ cross being glanced home by Niang.

Burnley started the second half brightly with Michael Keane twice going close. His downward header from Scott Arfield’s corner was brilliantly turned behind by Gomes before Keane controlled a Mee flick-on and turned to get a shot away which was deflected wide.

Watford’s threat was reduced in the second half but it needed a moment of brilliance from Tom Heaton 20 minutes from time to deny Deeney a second. Niang’s low cross was turned goalwards by the Hornets captain from six yards but Heaton managed to claw it the other way despite his momentum taking him in the other direction.

Burnley’s second half fightback got them back into the game from the penalty spot. Barton’s shot from the edge of the area hit Sebastian Prodl’s arm and Barnes, who had seen a volley cleared off the line seconds earlier, made no mistake from 12 yards.

The Clarets launched a late assault at the Watford goal but saw a golden chance come to nothing in injury time when Barnes could only shoot at Gomes after Younes Kaboul’s slip had let him in.