OWEN Coyle has urged Burnley to maintain the high standards they set in his first win as Clarets boss at Watford.

The former St Johnstone manager, who was unveiled as Steve Cotterill's successor last week, hailed a team effort after seeing his new side topple the Championship leaders 2-1 at Vicarage Road in midweek.

And he believes that retaining that level of performance will bode well for another trip to the capital this weekend, when the Clarets take on Charlton Athletic.

"I asked them to believe in what they can do, and they've shown that they're good players," said Coyle, of Tuesday's impressive win.

"But it can't be that you go and give that performance and let your standards drop. You have to reach for those standards week in, week out.

"And as it is we've been given an easy one now because we go to Charlton on Saturday!" he joked. "It's incredible.

"But I suppose I was always going to find out in the space of those two games really what the Championship was all about.

"I've seen it on Saturday at home to Stoke - a big, strong, physical side. So you're never going to get anything easy.

"As it is we've obviously got a massive game now at Charlton on Saturday. But we're loving it and long may it continue."

And Coyle was delighted that Andy Gray got his rewards for a hard-working performance with his 11th goal of the season, to put the Clarets ahead.

"I thought he worked ever so hard on Saturday. He never had a lot of goalmouth opportunities but he led the line so well and did it again (at Watford), and I'm just delighted for him because I know how hard it is to forrage away up there as a striker and sometimes not get any shots away at goal," he said.

"But the delivery from Wade Elliott was terrific and Andy Gray is a good striker.

"He's not scored the amount of goals he has by being a bad player.

"He knows where to be and it's a terrific finish back across the goalkeeper.

"I think we have some players who can score goals, they're in the right places, but we want to bring it on.

"We want to make ourselves even more potent in front of goal, if that's possible.

"You'll not be allowed to go and dictate every game because there are quality sides in the Championship, but I think we've showed that we can pass the ball and we're just looking for the players to take that belief."

Coyle was also impressed with the way his players coped with late pressure from Watford, notably frequent spells of aerial bombardment as the Hornets tried to snatch a draw after Dan Shittu pulled a late goal back.

"I think when Watford scored then they're going to throw everything at you and they did that," he said. "Again we defended our box well, we were brave, and had to be. It's not easy against the league leaders.

"I've learned that they'll stand up and be counted when they need to be.

"I think at one point in the last five minutes I'm sure somebody threw the kitchen sink into the box. It was all hands on deck, and they stood up.

"Watford have good players and they are a good side.

"I think for Watford supporters to applaud us off the pitch I think that tells you something about the performance.

"Obviously it's very pleasing, and I'm delighted for the fans because they came in numbers.

"It's a long journey and it's important that they can see the players are giving every ounce of effort, and they did that tonight.

"It wasn't just about an 11, it wasn't about 14. There were boys there that were never stripped that still played their part.

"I think we've got a good team spirit there and a sense of camaraderie. We want to harness that and make it even better.

"But I'm delighted with the whole effort. It was a magnificent team effort.

"Yes, we had great individual performances but anything we do at Burnley will be united and be as a team."