Bournemouth dismantle 10-man Watford 0-4

Match Report

Watford 0-4 AFCB

6 October 2018

Attendance: 20,139

Sixth v Seventh at Vicarage Road.

It was rainy, damp and miserable - well for Watford fans. But the Cherries had a fabulous time in spanking the Hornets for four goals as they held firm against the aerial and physical test from Watford, and when they came to express themselves, Bournemouth blew Watford away. Asmir Begovic did have to pluck a great shot from Will Hughes out of the air, but Nathan Aké was immense at the back, while Jefferson Lerma sent his squadron of runners in front of him to go and get the goals as he dictated from the middle. Brooks got his second Premier League goal by finishing from one of Wilson's shots that rebound to him off Foster. Kabasele's second booking, and red card, gave no way back for Watford and Josh King blasted Bournemouth 0-2 ahead from the spot. When King made it 0-3 at the far post, before half-time, Bournemouth fans were in ecstasy. Just the one goal from Callum Wilson early in the second half was the only surprise in a quieter second 45 minutes. Bournemouth had already lit up Vicarage Road and keeping the clean sheet was their main objective for the rest of the game.

It was an unchanged Bournemouth team, but Jordan Ibe replaced Lys Mousset on the bench.

Watford's players greet the Bournemouth Players.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery. 

The start of the game saw Bournemouth have to deal with a barrage of corners from Watford which started as early as the second minute. Asmir Begovic's catching practise was underway. Bournemouth had a bit of trouble getting used to the wet pitch with a few heavy passes.

Josh King almost got on to a long ball forward, until Ben Foster rushed out to stop him. Then Lewis Cook started to assert some forward play, leaving two Watford players in his wake, while Simon Francis let Andre Gray find out what a shoulder barge was when he sent him flying. Kabasele then got booked for jumping at Begovic and it was to be an important first of two yellow cards for him.

Watford came close to scoring on 11 minutes when Gray had a shot blocked by Aké, then Pereyra was blocked. Then Capoue shot into a crowd, before Will Hughes brought out a superb two-handed save from Begovic to his right.

The fright only served to quicken Bournemouth's play and Josh King set about taking the game to the Hornet's defence. Ryan Fraser took over before King again took the ball up on the left, and Wilson had his shot saved by Foster. It only to rebounded out to the oncoming David Brooks, who found the back of the net on 14 minutes.

Watford again came forward winning a corner and Craig Cathcart had a great chance to equalise from it, but headed powerfully wide when unmarked from six yards. Bournemouth were playing on the break with Steve Cook and Aké making the blocks.

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Bournemouth's first corner came on 23 minutes, but Watford came close again from one of their corners just before the half hour when Aké made a block from Deeney and Cathcart's shot was deflected wide.

The game really fell away for Watford when Kabasele made his second yellow card offences by taking King down in the box. Josh got up to make it 0-2 on 33 minutes. Wilson was then shaking his head after Francis had put a ball across the box, in front of him, but Callum fired wide of the goal.

Will Hughes tried to fall in style to win a free kick but was ignored. Nothing was going for Watford. Just before half-time King was able to make it 0-3, scoring a far post header from a Callum Wilson cross.

Watford were blown away in the first 45 minutes.

Second half
Stopping Bournemouth had been beyond Watford in the first half. They had no answer in the second either as Bournemouth fans cheered every pass Fraser chipped in a ball to Wilson, who beat the oncoming Foster to see the ball drift kindly into the goal and the score went to 0-4. Wilson enjoyed it so much, he celebrated by talking into the camera.

Watford were shell-shocked. There was no coming back from this. It was Bournemouth now getting the corners. Aké forced a header that Foster then saved.

Watford subbed Gray for Issac Success on 54 minutes and Will Hughes was taken off to bring on Mariappa on 55 minutes. It did at least give Watford some energy and Doucouré saw his shot deflect over.

King looked dismayed when he got nothing when left on his backside in the box. Stanislas was then on to replace Fraser.

Watford had a good effort from Doucouré go wide, but it was Lerma who ensured Bournemouth kept ticking over, supported by Gosling, who came on for Brooks on 70 minutes. Watford responded by subbing Pereyra with Doulofeu on 74 minutes.

Adam Smith was still getting down the left and it was Lewis Cook that was subbed for Surman on 78 minutes. Wilson couldn't quite get round Cathcart, but did win a corner.

Surman picked up a yellow card for a foul on Femenia. Watford had been far bigger offenders though and Doucouré made it five yellow cards for them by taking Lerma down. While two additional minutes were played, it probably should have been more. But Bournemouth fans didn't care, their side had made it two away wins and they had spoiled Watford's 100th Premier League match at Vicarage Road.

The players say thanks for the support.

Summary
Bournemouth win away from Dean Court in style! They are starting to warm to the task and each element of defence, midfield and attack is looking more impressive. Had Bournemouth conceded, they may have found that Watford would have come more into the game, but without that foothold Bournemouth just got stronger and stronger. Lerma was magnificent and Aké was no doubt inspired by coming back to Vicarage Road. At this rate Bournemouth are going to win far more than the four away wins they had last season and if they continue to work hard at getting clean sheets, Eddie Howe will be working from a solid platform. It all bodes well.

AFCB

AFCB: Subs: Boruc, Rico, Surman, Gosling, Ibe, Stanislas, Defoe 

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 8, Francis 7, S Cook 7, Aké 8, A Smith 7, Fraser 8, L Cook 8, Lerma 9, Brooks 8, King 8, Wilson 7

Cherry Chimes MOM: Jefferson Lerma

Ref Watch: 5/10 Jonathan Moss does his best to keep up with play but he might have seen even more Watford fouls if he had been closer to the action. He did punish a lot of Watford's fouling though and I thank him for that.

Watford
Foster, Femenía, Cathcart, Kabasele (sent off 32min), Holebas, Capoue, Doucouré, Hughes (Mariappa 55), Pereyra (Deulofeu 74), Deeney, Gray (Success 54)

Watford Subs
Gomes, Mariappa, Deulofeu, Success, Masina, Sema, Chalobah

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.