Javi Gracia’s away duck as Watford head coach has finally been broken after the Hornets’ impressive 3-1 victory at Burnley this afternoon.

The Spaniard’s record on the road since taking charge at Vicarage Road had read no goals scored and only one point won prior to today’s lunchtime clash. Throw in the fact Watford had not been triumphant at Turf Moor in their last 10 visits and the historical omens were not good.

However, last week’s 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion – and the manner of it – offered encouragement going into the game, and that proved justified as three quality goals from Andre Gray, against his former club, Troy Deeney and Will Hughes saw the Hornets make it back-to-back wins at the start of the season.

“For me it’s always important to get a win,” Gracia said. “It’s my first win away. I was very pleased after the first game and today as well. I know it’s not easy to get points here and I think we played a good game.

“I think last season we had the chance to get points, to score goals, but we didn’t. Today we have scored three goals. It’s true in the second half we scored two goals early and then we could have managed the game better. Today it’s important our strikers scored goals. Troy, Andre and Will Hughes as well it’s important for them, for the team and I’m very pleased for all of them.”

Asked about his two strikers who are showing signs of forming a potent partnership, Gracia said: “I think in this moment it is a good option to play with two forwards. They are doing a very good job, not only today scoring goals, they are having a very good reaction after losing the ball, pressing a lot and creating many difficulties for the centre-backs or full-backs. Today we have been able to keep the line a little bit high because all of those players have done a good job.”

After Gray’s early volley had been cancelled out by James Tarkowski, Watford came under heavy pressure at times but, crucially, we able to stay on level terms going into the break.

“We didn’t change anything at half-time,” Gracia said. “We thought we were doing very good things and we need to keep those but to try to be more aggressive in the last metres because I think we have created more shots than the opposition, more shots on target as well, but we need to finish better.”