THIS SIX IS ON FIRE
999 call sparks a crazy night as defenders feel the heat
A FALSE fire alarm in the East Stand delayed kick-off the Vitality before this cracker ignited on the pitch. Bournemouth and Watford shared six first-half goals – with four in six crazy minutes – to warm up the chilly Dorset night. Recalled Hornets captain Troy Deeney scored twice and terrorised the home defence all evening. But Eddie Howe celebrated his 10th anniversary of first taking the Cherries job by seeing his injury-hit side battle to stay in the match and record a first draw since October after nine defeats in 11 games.
And only the brilliance of Ben Foster after the break denied the hosts a win.
The Hornets were denied a stoppage-time penalty by referee David Coote when sub Tom Cleverley’s shot hit the hand of Nathan Ake in the box.
Howe’s men have now conceded 12 goals in their last three games after this spicy encounter.
The Cherries began brightly with David Brooks and Jefferson Lerma shooting wide. But Watford took the lead with a fine team goal on 14 minutes. After working the ball across the pitch, Abdoulaye Doucoure released Ken Sema down the right and the Swede’s cross was headed home by Deeney.
The striker doubled the lead – and netted his fifth of the season – 13 minutes later. Dan Gosling gave the ball away in midfield and Gerard Deulofeu raced towards goal.
The retreating Steve Cook slid in with a tackle, but the loose ball fell to the other captain and Deeney rammed home. It looked like it was not going to be Bournemouth’s night when Doucoure escaped with only a yellow card for a shocking, knee-high tackle on Ryan Fraser a minute later.
But the Cherries were soon level during a chaotic end to the opening period. After 34 minutes, Fraser floated a free-kick to the back post to allow Cook to head back across goal.
Foster saved Gosling’s header but Ake nodded home. Then, three minutes later, another deadball from the Scotland star saw Callum Wilson head into the top corner. But Watford reclaimed the lead barely a minute later when Sema volleyed home his first goal for the club after Deeney caused more chaos.
To cap off a crazy seven minutes, Junior Stanislas crossed and both strikers dummied to allow Fraser to sweep home on the back post. The first half saw nine shots on target and six goals.
Inevitably, the pace dropped after the break – and Foster denied both Bournemouth strikers. After 64 minutes, Wilson met another Fraser free-kick, only for the ex-England No.1 to claw away his header.
And 11 minutes later, he raced out of his goal to block Joshua King’s fierce shot and then claimed the rebound. Cook made a late brilliant saving tackle on Roberto Pereyra as the Watford winger bore down on goal.