Head boys! Jeff Hendrick and Michael Keane score as Burnley beat Watford

Burnley found their goal touch in the absence of star striker Andre Gray as they comfortably beat an out of sorts Watford 2-0 at Turf Moor.

The Clarets have struggled to find the net since returning to the top flight and it looked like their woes would continue when their number one hitman was handed a four-match suspension ahead of this contest.

But Sean Dyche's men responded in style with Steven Defour the architect of their success, providing two superb assists for the club's £10.5million record signing, Jeff Hendrick and ex-Manchester United defender, Michael Keane to head home either side of half-time.

The visitors had come into the contest after netting seven goals in two emphatic victories over West Ham and Manchester United, but they were the ones who lacked imagination in attack as they managed just two touches in the Clarets area in a tepid showing in the first period.

Walter Mazzarri's men improved after the restart but a Troy Deeney drive saved by Tom Heaton was the best they could muster on a night when they failed to show their manager evidence of the progress he had called for ahead of the visit to Lancashire.

The win was Burnley's second league success of the campaign and moves them up to 13th spot, level on seven points with the Hornets who remain 11th.

The Clarets have shown real spirit and determination to defeat Liverpool and Watford at home this season – but have also drawn with Hull and lost to Swansea. Beating the sides in and around the danger zone will be key to how their season pans out and making Turf Moor a tough place to go is vital. Add in the X-factor that a player like Defour brings to the table and the prospect of retaining their place in the topflight seems more likely than on their previous stay amongst the Premier League elite.

Steven Defour (Burnley). Two assists and an all-action showing from a player who is proving to be a very shrewd addition. He has been involved in four of the Clarets' five Premier League goals and has added a touch of class to an honest, hard-working side.

BURNLEY: Heaton 7, Lowton 7, Ward 7, Mee 7, Keane 8, Marney 7, Defour 9, Hendrick 8, Gudmundsson 7, Boyd 7, Vokes 7. Subs: Arfield n/a, Kightly n/a.

WATFORD: Gomes 6; Cathcart 5, Prödl 6, Britos 6; Amrabat 6, Capoue 6, Behrami 6, Pereyra 5, Holebas 6, Deeney 6, Ighalo 5. Subs: Zuniga 6, Success 7, Kenedy n/a.

9' - BURNLEY CHANCE! Vokes meets a right-wing cross but sees his header deflect behind for a corner. From the resulting set piece it falls for Boyd whose rifled effort is tipped over by Gomes.

38' - GOAL! BURNLEY 1-0 WATFORD. The number of corners won finally pays off for the home side as a right-wing set piece from Defour is nodded in by Hendrick. Watford pretty much left him unopposed. Terrible defending.

48' - WATFORD CHANCE! Watford much more lively from the off. The ball falls kindly for Deeney who forces Heaton to make a decent save at his near post.

50' - GOAL! BURNLEY 2-0 WATFORD. Defour with another delicious cross that Keane meets with a superb header that flies into the corner. Watford paying the price for more poor marking after the initial corner was only half cleared.

61' - BURNLEY CHANCE! Gudmundsson whips a lovely free kick into the mix that Watford can only half clear. Defour lets fly with a shot that Gomes parries, but Vokes is unable to make get enough on the rebound to make it three.

81' - BURNLEY CHANCE! Almost three. Vokes' shot ricochets to Boyd who sees his cross-shot fly wide of the post with Hendrick waiting for a tap-in.

Jeff Hendrick scored his first Burnley goal. He has scored four goals against Watford, the most goals he has notched against any club.

Watford have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games.

Steven Defour has been involved in four of Burnley's five goals in the Premier League this season.

The Clarets are unbeaten in nine home league games against Watford since a 2-3 defeat in April 2004 (W5, D4).