Bournemouth found themselves going behind for the first time this season with Stipe Perica scoring after 12 minutes. The Cherries had most of the possession but couldn't get in behind Watford who defended well first half. Begovic had to make a good save to keep Bournemouth in it from Sarr in the second half, but in added time Bournemouth found a way to break the Watford defence when Lloyd Kelly saw his shot turned in by Chris Mepham to keep Bournemouth's unbeaten record going. It will feel like a win for the Cherries because they were moments away from losing the game.
Jason Tindall revamped the side after two draws with four changes. In came Josh King for his first start this season, Phillip Billing and Lewis Cook started in midfield and Lloyd Kellly came in at the back. Out went Dan Gosling, Dominik Solanke, Junior Stanislas and Adam Smith
Match Description
Bournemouth flew at Watford with Stacey getting a couple of early attempts at crosses. Lerma put a great ball in for Stacey but he couldn't control it.
Lloyd Kelly is booked for a bad foul on Sarr. Lewis Cook is fouled in the middle by Chalobah. Bournemouth are getting good early possession, but are not quite getting the slick final pass in. Billing fouls Garner. Watford have a corner.
Bournemouth break, but Lerma loses out. Watford are getting a few more pieces together now. Cathcart plays along diagonal ball to Sarr and he crosses from the right, and it's a tap in for Perica who scores on 12 minutes against the run of play. Perica ran off the back of Steve Cook and just stretched out to finish. Rico was too high up and Sarr had stolen a yard in behind him to get the cross in.
Sarr shoots wide from distance. Watford are knocking the ball around now with much more confidence. Bournemouth are standing off.
Lerma is going off injured with a hamstring pull and Solanke is coming on after 18 minutes. Stacey is offside. Danjuma down the left wins a corner for Bournemouth. Mepham heads wide. Watford win a free kick but Begovic catches it.
KIng's cross is caught by Foster. Billing wins the ball well and Garner is carded. Bournemouth have a free kick on the right side. Rico takes and Foster catches. Rico wins a corner. Rico wins a free kick now.
Solanke makes room for a shot but it's straight at the keeper. Stacey is fouled. Danjuma and Stacey puts a cross over and Rico wins a corner. Billing's cross is blocked, corner. Billing's long ball goes out of play.
Kelly blocks for a Watford corner. Danjuma is clipped right on the edge of the box by Troost-Ekong. Rico or Danjuma to take. Bournemouth put four players in from of Watford's five-man wall. The ball hits the Watford wall.
Mepham fouls Perica. Danjuma for Solanke. Danjuma now, Lewis Cook blasts over. Stacey charges into the box but a poor lay-off from him. Solanke wins a corner. Billing Rico and Solanke puts a limp header towards goal that Foster catches.
Perica clashes with Billing and is receiving treatment. Cleverly is down now. Billing caught him high above the knee. Lewis Cook is fouled by Garner.
Bournemouth possession 61%, 6 shots, 2 shots on target, 5 corners, 8 fouls.
Watford possession 39%, 2 shots, 1 shot on target, 2 corners, 10 fouls.
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Second half
Capoue is on for Garner. King is offside. Now Sarr is offside. Sarr is found on the left and Begovic makes a big save to keep it at 1-0. Billing shoots wide.
Rico wins the ball back. Solanke tries to find Danjuma but the pass is too strong. Sarr goes down against Kelly but nothing is given, it was outside the box. Stacey down the right, Solake line sit up for King who blasts it over the bar.
Yellow card to Cleverly for a foul on Stacey. Stacey crosses but it's weak. Lewis Cook out to Stacey. Cook again, Billing to Slanke who shots from outside the box but Foster saves well to his left, corner for Bournemouth. Good quick feet from Solanke.
Solanke is fouled. Lewis Cok takes it. Danjuma is robbed. Bournemouth are not making much headway. Rico is booked for a foul on Sarr. Cleverly is subbed for Quina. Watford put a ball right across the box, not sure what Steve Cook was thinking to let it go.
Quina shots from range and Begvic shovels it away for a corner to Watford. Quina and the ball bounces across the Bournemouth box until Rico clears. Perica is down.
Pedro is coming on for Perica on 82 minutes. Quina shoots from distance and Begovic saves. Riquelme replaces Rico on 88 minutes.
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Seven minutes of added time. King wins a corner. Headed back across goal and Watford get an offside decision. Free kick to Bournemouth. Steve Cook heads on and King's header is punched over by Foster.
From the corner the ball is punched out by Forster and Kelly hits it back in with Mepham on the line making it 1-1.
Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Cathcart, Sema, Chalobah, Cleverley (Quina 64), Garner (Capoue 45), Sarr, Perica (Pedro 83)
Watford Subs: Bachmann, Wilmot, Joao Pedro, Murray, Quina, Capoue, Sierralta
Watford are basically a Premiership team playing in the Championship, and possibly the same could be said of Bournemouth - who often looked the better side. On this evidence, it is difficult to understand why we retreated against Cardiff after taking the lead.
ReplyDeleteWas not able to watch the Cardiff match, but have been able to watch the QPR and Watford matches in the States. I thought they played better against Watford but still are really sloppy and wasteful with the ball, particularly in the final third. Important run of games coming up, so that needs cleaned up.
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