Scott Parker Hails “World-Class” James Trafford as Burnley Rallies to Defeat Watford in Dramatic Comeback
Burnley manager Scott Parker had no shortage of praise for his goalkeeper James Trafford following a remarkable comeback victory over Watford, a win that places the Clarets within touching distance of promotion to the Premier League. The team can now seal their top-flight return as early as Easter Monday, provided they overcome fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United at Turf Moor.
The game was a tale of resilience and determination for Burnley, who have made a habit of fighting back from behind in recent weeks. Goals from Zian Flemming and Josh Brownhill secured yet another comeback triumph—Burnley’s second in just three matches. But it could have turned out very differently had it not been for the brilliance of Trafford between the sticks.
In a pivotal moment just seconds before Burnley’s equaliser, Watford appeared destined to extend their lead with a thunderous 30-yard strike from Ebe Kayembe. However, Trafford intervened with a sensational save, tipping the rocket of a shot onto the crossbar and denying Watford what could have been a decisive second goal.
Speaking after the match, Parker expressed his satisfaction with his team’s overall performance, though he acknowledged they had not started the game as strongly as he would have liked.
“Overall, I’m delighted with the team,” he told reporters. “I thought our start was a little sluggish. We had control early on, but then conceded from a second-phase play following a set piece. They went a goal up, and we had to respond.”
That response, Parker said, was one of the key positives from the match. He applauded the attitude and composure his players showed after falling behind.
“Our reaction was fantastic,” Parker said. “And the moment that really swung momentum our way was the save by Trafford. That was a world-class moment. If that’s any other keeper, the ball’s in the top corner. But Traffs was there, and it changed everything.”
Soon after Trafford’s heroics, Burnley drew level thanks to a well-worked attacking sequence that culminated in a composed finish by Zian Flemming. Parker revealed that the goal was a product of specific tactical preparation.
“We’d worked on exploiting that space in training,” he said. “It was an excellent team move and an even better finish from Flem. Going into halftime at 1-1 felt deserved based on how the half ended.”
During the break, Parker said he emphasized the need for smarter decisions in the final third, criticizing some of the team’s first-half ball retention and decision-making in transition.
“In the first half, we made it easy for them to counter-press us. Too many cheap turnovers gave Watford opportunities to break. We needed to clean that up,” he explained.
Burnley came out stronger in the second half and were rewarded when Josh Brownhill gave them the lead with a clinical finish. From there, the match turned increasingly physical, especially after Watford were reduced to nine men following two red cards.
“The second half became a different kind of game,” Parker continued. “It got physical very quickly, but I thought the lads handled it brilliantly. We kept our composure, didn’t get dragged into anything silly, and matched them for intensity without overstepping.”
Despite being two players down, Watford continued to pose a threat late in the game. Burnley, on the other hand, appeared uncertain whether to continue pressing for a third goal or sit back and protect their slim lead.
“We had a few great chances to kill the game off and make it 3-1,” Parker admitted. “Their goalkeeper made a good save, and we weren’t quite clinical enough. In that situation, you’ve got to be ruthless.”
Parker also noted the unusual challenge of playing against only nine men, something he said neither he nor most of his players had experienced before.
“It’s strange, playing against nine men,” he reflected. “You’d think it would make things easier, but it can actually become more complicated. We needed to use the width of the pitch more, stretch them, and deliver into the box. We had the chances, but just couldn’t finish it off.”
Nevertheless, Burnley held firm in the closing stages, managing the game professionally to secure all three points. The win leaves them on the verge of promotion and full of confidence ahead of a massive fixture against Sheffield United.
“Ultimately, we came here needing a win, and we got one,” Parker concluded. “There’s room for improvement, of course—but tonight, I’m proud of the boys.”
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