DEPENDING on the final Premier League table in May this might prove a crucial point gained or an opportunity missed for the Clarets.

Burnley had the clearer chances but couldn’t take them in a Vicarage Road stalemate with the visitors denied a stoppage time winner when the linesman judged Chris Wood offside when he tucked home after Ben Foster had spilled Dwight McNeil’s low drive. Replays appeared to show the Clarets frontman was onside.

It was a tight call but few could have begrudged the Clarets, roared on by a vocal away following, all three points in an absorbing encounter.

Sean Dyche’s side created the better chances and had the better of the play but in the end had to settle for a point.

For their part, Watford had chances of their own but the Clarets defended resolutely and Tom Heaton was equal to deny Gerard Deulofeu in the opening minute and Troy Deeney late in the first half.

The point extends ended Burnley’s winning streak and they drop a place to 16th but remain three points clear of the bottom three.

The first chance came Watford’s way with a hopeful Deeney pass forward sending Deulofeu through but his touch was a tad heavy and Heaton was able to deny the Spaniard with his legs.

It was a let off the for the Clarets and they scrambled clear another dangerous delivery from Deeney with Ken Sema lurking before Burnley carved out their first chance when Ben Mee headed Dwight McNeil’s deep right wing corner over the top.

Burnley settled into the match as the game entered the second quarter with Ashley Westwood prominent in midfield. Ashley Barnes did well to turn Adrian Mariappa inside the box but the Watford defender recovered to deflect the ball away for a corner while at the other end Jose Holebas fired over from distance.

Confidence was growing in the Clarets camp and as the rain began to fall Barnes brought a point blank save out of Ben Foster with a header from Westwood’s excellent delivery.

Burnley were asking the more pertinent questions and McNeil curled a free kick into the side netting on the half hour before Barnes missed the best chance of the half.

Deulofeu tried to keep the ball in play in play in the corner and was robbed by Jeff Hendrick who teed up Phil Bardsley to deliver. His cross cannoned off Mariappa and bounced up off Barnes’ hand but the Clarets striker miscued.

Heaton had been a virtual spectator for much of the half but was alert to deny Deeney, who got in front of Tarkowski, to turn Femina’s left wing cross goalwards.

Burnley sprang out of the traps at the start of the second half with Hendrick and Wood combining to release Phil Bardsley in the Watford box but the full back’s low cross just evaded Ashley Barnes in the box.

Hendrick was next to come close as he was denied by a sprawling Foster after Wood had done well to roll his man and feed the Irishman.

The Clarets continued to come forward and McNeil, from a Mee knockdown, thundered a volley over from inside the box when he should have scored.

Deeney continued to look Watford’s man most likely and his deflected header was well kept out by Heaton’s feet on 55 minutes

Pereya curled an effort a yard wide as the home side looked to gain a foothold before Taylor’s strong block thwarted Deulofeu and Heaton gathered Tom Cleverley’s drive from distance.

Watford were beginning to have the better of proceedings as the game ticked into the final quarter but neither side was fashioning too many clear cut chances.

Burnley thought they had won it late on but the linesman denied Wood a stoppage time winner and the Clarets had to settle for a share of the spoils.