Bournemouth need to learn Howe to defend set-pieces
SAME old Watford, unable to get a win. Same old Bournemouth, unable to get a grip on the basics of defending set-pieces.
Perhaps such habits made a draw here inevitable, not that it does a great deal for either side at the moment, with Watford extending their winless run to seven and Bournemouth struggling to find any sort of consistency.
It could have been worse for the latter, given Watford led twice, first through Christian Kabasele and then Troy Deeney.
Each goal came from Bournemouth’s inability to deal with corners and each was followed by an equaliser, from Josh King and then Benik Afobe saving a point late on.
That will have helped Eddie Howe’s mood, though there was no disguising his frustration, given his side are haemorrhaging goals these days.
In seven of their previous nine games they had shipped at least three, and conceding a further two at home is indication of a weakness that appears no closer to being resolved.
Thus there is no mystery behind their diminished points return of five from the last 18 available.
Howe said: ‘We defended well in open play, we were fine. The set-plays we knew would be a strength of theirs but the manner of two setplays is disappointing.
‘But we have to look for positives. The character of the team was superb to come back when losing.’
Watford’s situation is bleaker. While Bournemouth continue to hold a position in mid-table, Walter Mazzarri’s side have drifted close to the rocks.
They played well at times but still cannot quite get over the line, which for all their talk of injuries would indicate a lack of confidence.
Mazzarri said: ‘It feels like I lost two points. We deserved to win. Two mistakes allowed them to score.
‘In other games we have lost for mistakes and paid the highest price. We have also had injuries and have been unlucky as well.
‘It is all these things together that bring us here.’
In this game it was less a case of bad luck, with the result just about fair. Bournemouth started the stronger but Watford scored against the run of play 24 minutes in when the home side made a hash of dealing with a Jose Holebas corner and Kabasele headed home.
Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes made three excellent saves in the match but was beaten three minutes into the second half by King from close range before Bournemouth coughed up another goal to a corner.
This time it was a Tom Cleverley delivery and a handful of defenders watching as Deeney headed Watford ahead.
Howe looked unimpressed, but the match turned once more with his decision to bring on Afobe with 16 minutes to play. Vindication came eight minutes later with the striker taking a pass from Andrew Surman to beat Gomes.
Two goals apiece and neither manager especially pleased. BOURNEMOUTH (4-5-1): Boruc 5.5; A Smith 6.5, Cook 5, Mings 5.5, Daniels 6; Stanislas 6 (Afobe 74min, 7), Surman 6, Wilshere 7, King 6 (Ibe 74, 6), Fraser 7 (Pugh 81); Wilson 5.5. Subs (not used): Gosling, Pugh, Arter, B Smith, Federici. WATFORD (3-5-2): Gomes 7.5; Kaboul 6.5, Prodl 6.5, Britos 7; Kabasele 6.5 (Cathcart 85), Cleverley 6.5, Doucoure 6 (Ighalo 88), Capoue 6, Holebas 6.5; Deeney 7, Okaka 6 (Janmaat 62, 6). Subs (not used): Zuniga, Sinclair, Pantilimon, Mason. Booked: Holebas, Kaboul. Referee: L Mason 6.5.