BURNLEY might have left Vicarage Road without adding to their solitary away point this season but a performance of courage and character gave plenty of positives for those travelling Clarets.

It’s been a tough slog following Burnley on the road this season, with little for the magnificent away contingent to cheer, but after some underwhelming performances as summer turned to autumn, Sean Dyche’s side have now found their feet on their travels.

That the rearguard effort at Old Trafford remains their only point away from home this season is down to moments of bad luck and individual mistakes.

They have performed far, far better than that afternoon in Manchester in recent weeks, but they’ve not managed to collect another point.

After seven successive home wins and some promising displays at White Hart Lane, the Etihad Stadium and the Emirates recently Burnley travelled to Watford confident that this was the day they would finally break their duck away from home.

It took less than seven minutes for that expectation to be dampened, and just 10 for it to be all but extinguished.

After traffic chaos on the M6 some of the away fans had barely made their seats for kick-off. Now they saw their side a man down and a goal down with 80 minutes still to play.

But they will have left Dyche’s former hunting ground as player and manager feeling a sense of pride after a stirring second half performance.

Having conceded a second on the stroke of half time the game appeared to have gone, but we should know better than thinking this team have nothing left to give, that they can find no more from within.

Instead they responded with a 45 minutes that had the away end roaring its approval and, by the end, the home fans begging for the final whistle.

In the end Burnley had given themselves too much to do, but only just.

They will trace this defeat back to Jeff Hendrick’s sixth minute red card, the first of his professional career.

There was no malice in his challenge on Jose Holebas but it fell into the reckless category and he went over the top of the ball. Michael Oliver had little choice but to brandish the red card.

Finding themselves a man down Burnley looked to regroup, but Scafell Pike turned into Everest when they went a goal down minutes later, Troy Deeney bullying his way in front of Matt Lowton to head home M’Baye Niang’s cross.

Burnley’s threat in the first half was minimal. Joey Barton’s 25-yard free-kick was tipped over by Heurelho Gomes, but aside from that they were focused on limiting the damage.

Just as it seemed they would reach half-time just a goal behind they were punished for switching off.

Watford were allowed time on the ball to build an attack, with Holebas given space to send in a cross which was headed home superbly by Niang.

It looked like game over but from the early stages of the second half it was clear Burnley had other ideas.

Gomes produced a brilliant one-handed save from Michael Keane’s header before the same player turned well in the area and saw a shot deflected wide.

Watford’s attacking threat had almost disappeared but on a rare foray forward Deeney thought he had scored from six yards only for Tom Heaton to brilliantly claw it away with his momentum taking him in the other direction.

Then came Burnley’s lifeline. Barnes, who had just seen a volley cleared off the line, converted a penalty won after Sebastian Prodl had handled Barton’s shot.

Robbie Brady, on for his debut, tested Gomes from distance but the chance to salvage a draw fell to Barnes in stoppage time, but he sent his effort straight at the Hornets goalkeeper from a good position.

It was more away day frustration for Burnley, but the win is coming. It’s a matter of time.