Hodgson's Hornets remain on the rocks after drab draw

Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Watford ended in a goalless draw at Burnley which leaves both sides still fearing for their Premier League future.

Hodgson, the Premier League's oldest ever manager at 74, said this week he had been lured back in by "a siren call from the mermaid as the sailor passes by on his ship" but, as he stood drenched on the Turf Moor sidelines, the scale of the task he has inherited was laid bare.

He will take the positives from a first Premier League clean sheet in 31 attempts, but that was as much to do with the chances that Burnley passed up as by major improvements in the Hornets defence.

For their part, the Clarets looked invigorated by the arrival of deadline day signing Wout Weghorst but still could not find the cutting edge they need to stay in the division.

Sean Dyche's side still only have one league win all season - the only team to reach this stage of a Premier League campaign with one or fewer wins to their name and survive was West Brom in 2004-05.

And so - after finally playing a fixture originally scheduled for December 15 and twice postponed - both sides remain stuck in the bottom three, wondering where salvation might come from.

Energised by arrival of Weghorst (above) and the return of Maxwel Cornet from the Africa Cup of Nations, Burnley started brightly, with the front pair combining to carve out a series of chances.

Dwight McNeil bent the first one over before a slip from Craig Cathcart almost sent Weghorst clean through on goal.

Nick Pope's long punt was flicked on by Weghorst to Cornet. Cathcart forced him wide but the Burnley man still tested Ben Foster with a powerful shot on the angle.

But Burnley's unforced errors offered Watford hope at the other end.

James Tarkowski had to