Walter Mazzarri wants Watford to maintain momentum against Burnley

Posted Saturday, February 04, 2017 by PA

Walter Mazzarri has told his Watford players they must channel the same intensity which secured victory at Arsenal into the visit of Burnley.

The Hornets stunned Arsene Wenger's side to lead 2-0 inside the opening 15 minutes with goals from Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney.

Watford then held out against the expected onslaught after Alex Iwobi had set up a tense finale and went on to collect a first Premier League win since December 10.

The result left Watford in 13th place and crucially with some breathing space over the developing survival battle below them.

Mazzarri, though, knows all of that hard work will be for nothing if his team do not follow it up with the required performance against the Clarets.

"Yesterday I said in a team meeting we have to play the same against Burnley as they did (at) Arsenal. They have to see Burnley as the same as when they play Arsenal or Chelsea," the Italian said at a press conference.

"When we beat Manchester United at home (in September), as I reminded them, the next game we lost at Burnley - with one of the worst performances of the season.

"We have to have full confidence. I want to see the same intensity and concentration that we had against Arsenal. I want my players to possess the same spirit.

"It is very important to create unity between the players, fans and whole group, because we will need them. "

Burnley recorded a fourth win from their last five matches in all competitions when beating champions Leicester 1-0 at Turf Moor on Tuesday night.

Sean Dyche's well-organised team were unfortunate not to leave Arsenal with a point from their previous away game having gone down 2-1 after a penalty from Alexis Sanchez deep into added time.

Mazzarri will not underestimate the challenge, despite Burnley having lost nine times on their travels back in the top flight this season.

"I don't trust the statistics," the Watford manager said. "When I have seen Burnley play, both home and away, they have played very well.

"We will have to be careful against them.

"I don't think Burnley will come to Vicarage Road to defend, they have very quick strikers and great quality in midfield.

"Given the position they are in the Premier League, it will be a very tough game. I respect a team like them very much."

Clarets winger George Boyd has no doubt the club are "going places" and is feeling good about the chances of their first away win of the season finally being registered this weekend.

Boyd joined the Clarets at the start of 2014-15, a campaign they finished second-bottom of the Premier League.

They went on to win the Championship title last term, and currently find themselves 10th in the top flight after 23 games, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Tuesday's win against Leicester was their fifth-straight home league victory. The contrast between the home and away results for Dyche's men has been stark, with 28 of their 29 points being secured at Turf Moor.

But Boyd feels recent performances in defeats at the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City have been very encouraging.

And he said ahead of Saturday's trip to Dyche's old club Watford: "It's been a great week - another big win and two great additions to strengthen us even more.

"I think it just shows how far the club are progressing.

"I think last time we didn't really buy in the January transfer window. To bring that sort of quality in in January and be 10th in the league is brilliant for us.

"New training ground, record signings. It is a club going places.

"We're just looking up now. It is lovely for us. We would have taken 17th at the start of season, but you set your targets differently for how well we've done, so we have to look up rather than down."

He added: "We're so confident at the moment, even with our away form - we've played top teams and performed well.

"That is what we are taking into Saturday, and hopefully we'll get that monkey off our back.

"It doesn't really matter at the moment because we are 10th in the league, but obviously we want to win away from home, and with the performances lately, I think it will only be a matter of time before we do that."

Boyd is looking forward to hearing his new signings - midfielder Ashley Westwood and wide man Robbie Brady - sing in front of their new team-mates ahead of the clash with 13th-placed Watford, just as he had to after he joined.

"They have trained and will have their little sing-along and settle straight in," the 31-year-old said.

"That's what happens on our first away trip, in the hotel. I think 'Dancing in the Moonlight' was mine!"