premier league
WATFORD 2
Deeney (51), Success (65)
BOURNEMOUTH 2
Wilson (31), King (63)
WATFORD twice came from behind to draw with Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
Howe this week played down speculation he will succeed Sam Allardyce as England manager and the Cherries boss has more immediate concerns in the Premier League.
Callum Wilson’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Troy Deeney. Josh King restored the lead moments after coming off the bench, but the Hornets levelled for a second time through Isaac Success three minutes later.
Jack Wilshere might have won the match for the visitors – and put a dampener on Watford h e ad co ac h Wa lt e r Mazzarri’s 55th birthday celebrations – but could not hit a gaping goal from six yards out.
If this were an audition for England then Wilson and Deeney stood out, although Holland- born Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat outshone them both.
Wilson was a handful for Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Prodl from ea r l y on . He fo ul e d Wilson and the resulting free- kick from Junior Stanislas was tipped over by Heurelho Gomes.
Jack Wilshere’s most meaningful contribution in the opening half-hour was a late tackle on Camilo Zuniga which saw the on-loan Arsenal midfielder booked.
Th e Ch e r r i e s we re rewarded for their perseve ra nc e wh e n Ad am Smith and Deeney were in a tangle on Watford’s left. The ball broke for Stanislas whose cross looped off Jose Holebas and was met by Wilson with a firm downward header which bounced beneath Gomes.
Amrabat was twice denied by Artur Boruc in quick succession.
Prodl headed wide from a Holebas free-kick before Watford equalised five minutes into the second half. Amrabat easily
took th e ba l l ro un d Charlie Daniels on the right and cut it back for Deeney to tuck in.
Wilshere almost restored the lead, hitting the outside of a post after a run and left- footed shot, before the Cherries did score.
King replaced Jordan Ibe moments before a twisting and turning run wh i c h e va de d Va lo n Behrami. He then struck an ambitious shot which beat Gomes, but only after deflecting off Kaboul.
The advantage was short-lived as three minutes later Bournemouth failed to contest Holebas’ free- kick from wide on the left and Success’ header drifted in at the far post.
Wi ls h e re fa il e d to convert Smith’s cross, before Stanislas hit the bar with a superb free-kick.