EU CAN BANK ON US
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# <M<IP >8D<# Long’s in seventh heaven
6; WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Karnezis Janmaat 6 (Okaka 76), Prodl 5, 6 Mariappa 4, Holebas 6; Doucoure 5, (Carrillo 85), Capoue 6; Femenia 7; HUGHES 8 (Richarlison 85), Pereyra Deeney 6. Subs: Gomes, Britos, Cathcart, Gray. UP NEXT: Huddersfield (a), Premier League, Saturday. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 6; Lowton 6, Long 5, Tarkowski 6, Ward 5; 7, Lennon 5 (Hendrick 81), CORK 70); Westwood 6, N’Koudou 5 (Vokes Taylor, Wood 6, Barnes 6. Subs: Heaton, Marney, Wells, Bardsley. UP NEXT: Leicester (h), Premier League, Saturday. Referee: Paul Tierney 7. midfielder YOUR TURN: Which Burnley 2-1 was sent off five minutes into their defeat at Watford last season?
KEVIN LONG reckons Burnley would have nothing to fear from the Europa League after going through the Championship grind.
The Clarets took a big step towards clinching a European spot with this comeback win after two goals in three crazy minutes late on.
Sam Vokes scored the quickest goal by a substitute this season when he netted with his very first touch just 22 seconds after coming on.
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And Jack Cork headed the winner to cancel out Roberto Pereyra’s opener for Watford to help Burnley take a firm grip on seventh spot.
That could be good enough for a place in the dreaded Europa League, which has impacted badly on bigger clubs with bigger squads than Burnley’s.
But Long, who cut his teeth on loan at five different lower league clubs before making the grade at Turf Moor, doesn’t think Sean Dyche’s side would struggle.
He said: “The players might not have played in Europe but they have played in the Championship. The Championship is probably more difficult, to be honest, because it is week in and week out.
“A lot of our squad has a lot of Championship experience and we won’t be frightened by playing Sundays and Thursdays.
“It would be massive, everyone wants to be playing at the highest level and to be playing in Europe is the way to do it. I’ll be ready for it and so will the club.”
Watford were booed off after conceding from two set-pieces, just as they did when they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Bournemouth last time out.
Defender Adrian Mariappa said: “Two minutes, two set-pieces. Very disappointing for us.
“You have to shut up shop. Obviously, the goal came off me. That’s why he was onside. I thought I was nudged but the ref hasn’t given it.”