Defoe makes a late point after Holebas escapes red
ANDY MADLEY, refereeing a top-flight game for the first time, was booed off at half-time and at full time by furious Watford fans, while Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said he should have shown the hosts three red cards.
Watford and Bournemouth, both on 37 points, will probably stay in the top division, yet emotions still ran high. First, fury rained down at Andy Madley — the older brother of Premier League referee Bobby — for giving a first-half penalty to Bournemouth when Jose Holebas punched the ball inside the penalty area. The referee’s mistake was not sending Holebas off.
More of the same followed when Madley penalised Stefano Okaka for leading with his arm. The subsequent free-kick dropped for Jermain Defoe to provide the coolest of finishes for the last-minute equaliser.
‘Watford are making a lot of noises to say they feel hard done-by, but I actually think it’s us,’ Howe said, highlighting Holebas, Sebastian Prodl and Okaka as possible sendings-off. ‘It was a difficult game for the referee.’ That much is true.
Bournemouth started strongly with Nathan Ake hitting the bar but it was Watford who took the early lead. Holebas’s ball in at a corner was struck first-time by Kiko Femenia, his 13th-minute volley lifted over Asmir Begovic by the raised leg of Josh King.
Then the flash-point, as Junior Stanislas twisted his way past a defender to draw a brilliant save from the left hand of Orestis Karnezis. As the rebound dropped with Jordon Ibe and King closing in, Holebas seemed to fancy matching his keeper.
Assistant ref Constantine Hatzidakis spotted it but Madley failed to send Holebas off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, letting Watford off the hook.
Roberto Pereyra put the hosts back in front four minutes after half-time, stroking the ball through a crowd after a smart lay-off from the excellent Will Hughes. Bournemouth didn’t look like creating another equaliser until late.
‘He’s razor-sharp,’ Howe said of his 35-year-old scoring sub Defoe. Gracia said: ‘Maybe we deserved more points — we have lost two.’
WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Karnezis 7; Janmaat 7, Mariappa 5.5, Prodl 7 (Cathcart 64min, 6), Holebas 5.5; Capoue 6, Doucoure 6.5; Femenia 7 (Richarlison 81), Hughes 7.5 (Okaka 75), Pereyra 7; Deeney 6. Booked: Prodl, Holebas, Doucoure, Okaka. Subs (not used): Gomes, Ndong, Gray, Lukebakio. BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic 6; Fraser 6, S.Cook 6.5, Ake 6.5, Daniels 6; Stanislas 6.5 (Pugh 45, 6), L Cook 6, Gosling 6, Ibe 5 (Defoe 67, 7); King 7; Wilson 6 (Surman 81). Subs (not used): Boruc, Simpson, B Smith, Arter. Referee: A Madley (West Yorkshire) 6.