Ruthless Defoe makes bench mark
Substitute Jermain Defoe gave a timely reminder of his predatory instinct to snatch an injury-time goal that left Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe shaking a fist in delight.
Defoe had come off the bench midway through the second half and became Bournemouth’s saviour when he struck from close range, earning another valuable point towards safety.
It was the first goal of the calendar year for the 35-year-old striker, who has been restricted to late cameos off the bench in the Premier League in recent months.
Howe had some harsh criticism for referee Andrew Madley – stepping up to the Premier League – after the game but should have been focusing on the merits of his side, which he praised.
Watford captain Troy Deeney had said before the match that his team were not safe yet – but they were within touching distance of it until Defoe’s intervention.
The result meant that Deeney might still have had some edginess inside him as he left the ground and got ready to watch his friend Anthony Joshua in action in the boxing.
Watford’s fans were left angrily frustrated by the outcome, as Howe was rewarded for his influential secondhalf changes.
Howe said: “It was a massive goal for Jermain and a massive point for us. We only needed one chance [late on] and thankfully it fell to the right person.”
Defoe’s finish was a deserved reward for Bournemouth, who often showed their typically neat passing and speedy counter-attacking during this game. Comebacks and late goals are commendably something of a habit for Howe’s men.
Character was needed here by Bournemouth as they had twice fallen behind to a side who had won three times in a row on home turf and who are level on points with them.
Javi Gracia’s men had initially gone ahead from Kiko Femenia’s strike, but Jose Holebas made a blunder that gifted Bournemouth a penalty and the visitors equalised.
Roberto Pereyra put the home side back ahead and they protected that lead impressively until injury time, when they finally succumbed by failing to clear a free-kick and allowing the ball to bounce for Defoe.
Gracia said: “I’m not sure the points we’ll need to stay up but we need more in this moment. Maybe this point will be enough, but I only focus on the next three and try to get them.”
Bournemouth had started the brighter of the two teams but failed to take their early chances. Dutchman Nathan Ake – facing his former club – came closest, heading against the bar.
Watford punished those misses when Holebas floated the ball over for Kiko. The Spaniard met it with a volley from 12 yards and the ball then took a deflection off Joshua King, confusing keeper Asmir Begovic, on its way in.
Howe’s men eventually scored when Stanislas had another shot saved by Orestis Karnezis and the loose ball was then handled by Holebas as he tried to clear under pressure, leading to a penalty.
King confidently struck in from the spot, sending Watford’s goalkeeper the wrong way. Madley deserved credit for making the right call.
Bournemouth suffered a blow when Junior Stanislas hobbled off and was replaced in first-half added time – and Watford soon took the initiative early in the second half.
Gracia’s team restored their lead as impressive Will Hughes, finally starting under Gracia, teed up Pereyra, who finished.
Bournemouth responded well after that concession, also injecting more attacking threat with Defoe and the striker rewarded them by pouncing.
Afterwards, Howe claimed that there could have been three red cards shown to Watford players – to Holebas for the penalty, to Sebastian Prodl for what could have been a second yellow and to Stefano Okaka for an alleged elbow.
In reality though, referee Madley gave a reasonable enough display for a rookie.
Howe’s mood, on the whole, reflected that of his players, though; commendably positive.