Good grief, it's an extraordinarily lively start here. Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick is shown a straight red by Michael Oliver for going in two-footed into the right shin of Jose Holebas. Burnley manager Sean Dyche is furious. Lip-readers can see him say to the fourth official: "There's nothing wrong with him." Except he used an expletive rather than the word "nothing". Not sure you'll see that close up on Match of the Day. Holebas, after treatment, is able to return.

Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 5 mins

5 mins

Watford 0-0 Burnley

M'Baye Niang, perhaps smarting from that challenge a moment or so ago, sends Stephen Ward flying with a scything challenge as the full-back gathers a throw out from goalkeeper Tom Heaton. It's a clear yellow.

M'Baye Niang, making his Watford home debut, makes an early burst down the right - which is free of the sun - but Stephen Ward gets in with a robust and clean challenge.

The very low sun is causing the Graham Taylor Stand to cast a shadow over most of the pitch. There's a strip of sunshine on the opposite side, though, which is presenting a problem for the players in that area in the earlier stages. Burnley right-back Matt Lowton has to shield his eyes as he takes a throw-in. Both managers have to do the same as they watch on.

Watford in yellow, Burnley in claret and blue. Referee Michael Oliver is the man charged with keeping order, and we're away in bright sunshine.

Just like to flag up my own neutrality: my mate Rob lives in Burnley, while my late Auntie Pat was born in Watford. Balance all the way here.

It's been an up and down week on the field for Watford; a team showing seven changes were knocked out of the FA Cup at League One Millwall last Sunday, prompting an apology from head coach Walter Mazzarri. Two days later, his team only went and secured their first league win at Arsenal since 1988. Football, eh?

Image source, Getty Images

Barton, back in the Premier League after signing on a free transfer, is back in the news too. The midfielder - in the starting line-up today - was man of the match on Tuesday as Burnley beat Leicester. Then on Thursday, he accepted a Football Association charge relating to betting offences, but requested a personal hearing in relation to the sanctions he may face. As there is the possibility of a long ban, and Barton is 34, it does raise a question about his top-level future. Yesterday's Daily Express put it like this: 

Image source, Daily Express

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley made three January signings, with two of them left for deadline day. Robbie Brady arrived from Hull for a club-record £13m, a deal that was announced at half-time during Tuesday's match against Leicester, a few hours after the £5m signing of midfielder Ashley Westwood from Aston Villa was secured. As noted earlier, both are on the bench today.

The other signing? A certain Mr Joseph Anthony Barton...

One significant Watford departure was that of striker Odion Ighalo, sold to Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for £20m on Tuesday. Ighalo marked his departure from Hertfordshire with this, ahem, Herts-felt letter to Watford's fans. It actually looks as if it was done on a typewriter.

Image source, Getty Images

Before we turn our attention to the recent form of the two teams, let's take a look at their January transfer activity. Watford spent relatively little, with two loan signings - Tom Cleverley from Everton and M'Baye Niang from AC Milan - backed up by a £2.3m outlay on striker Mauro Zarate from Fiorentina. Hornets fans have had to wait until today for Zarate's debut, though - he's been serving a suspension after being sent off playing for La Viola against Chievo in the Coppa Italia on 11 January.

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator at Vicarage Road

"Last weekend, a lifelong Watford fan I know was convinced they were heading for relegation after taking just three points from their previous seven league fixtures.

"However, the win at Arsenal on Tuesday might prove to be a turning point.

"We all know about Burnley's form - they are in a Champions League place when it comes to home fixtures, but are bottom of the table for away matches.

"Their solitary point away from Turf Moor came at Manchester United at the end of October. They will add to that tally sometime, and I fancy it may well be today."

Dyche worked closely with Graham Taylor at Vicarage Road, and was among the mourners at St Mary's Church in Watford on Wednesday for the funeral of the former England manager, who died last month, aged 72.

The streets of the town were lined with people dressed in the Hornets' colours of yellow, red and black, as they remembered surely the greatest manager in the club's history.

Image source, PA

It's a return to former pastures for Sean Dyche this afternoon. The Burnley manager spent eight years at Watford in two spells, three as a player, and five on the coaching staff, culminating in a season as boss in 2011-12. The common consensus is that he was rather unlucky to lose his job at Vicarage Road.

"There is a lot of attachment, but it is parked today," Dyche says.

Image source, Getty Images

New Burnley signings Robbie Brady and Ashley Westwood are on the bench today, while Sam Vokes' midweek winner against Leicester - having come on as a substitute - is not enough to force him into the starting line-up. Steven Defour, who came off with a hamstring injury on Tuesday, is unfit, so Scott Arfield starts.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Let's get you some team news. Watford give a debut to former Birmingham and West Ham striker striker Mauro Zarate, signed from Fiorentina during the transfer window - more of him in a moment. He replaces Daryl Janmaat, while left-back Jose Holebas - the first man in the Premier League to 10 bookings this season - returns from his two-match ban to take over from Miguel Britos.

Image source, .

Burnley's most recent away victory was on the final day of last season, as they ensured the Championship title with a 3-0 win at relegated Charlton. They actually won the final two away games of their last Premier League campaign, two seasons ago, but there has been no such joy so far, despite some very decent performances on their travels.

Image source, Gett

A Burnley away win is harder to come by than an iceberg lettuce these days. But you can bet your last broccoli stem that Sean Dyche's side fancy their chances of ending that run of disappointing results on their travels today. Can they be stopped by Watford, who were cool as cucumbers in winning at Arsenal on Tuesday? (That's enough vegetable puns. Ed.)

Good afternoon. Let's find out who will enjoy the swede taste of victory this afternoon. (You're fired. Ed.)