Match Report: Bournemouth 0-3 Watford

Watford beat fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth away

Watford beat Bournemouth to climb out of the relegation zone

Nigel Pearson said Watford did what they needed to beat Bournemouth

Watford players rated after beating Bournemouth

Nigel Pearson felt Graham Taylor would have been proud of Watford’s win at Bournemouth

Images from Watford’s victory at Bournemouth to move out of the relegation zone

Nigel Pearson says Watford’s win at Bournemouth is “not a season-changing result” despite climbing out of the bottom three for the first time this season.

Pearson praises ‘exceptional’ Watford work rate

Abdoulaye Doucoure (42) gave Watford a first-half lead as they capitalised on an error from goalkeeper Mark Travers, before captain Troy Deeney (65) doubled the lead midway through the second half. Roberto Pereyra (90+2) wrapped up the three points for Pearson’s resurgent Hornets, who climb to 17th after their third consecutive league victory.

Graham Taylor, the greatest manager in Watford history, died on Jan 12 2017. There could have been no better way to mark the third anniversary of the great man’s passing than for the club he built to secure the victory which took them out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season. And for the travelling supporters, there was no question who they deem responsible for the upward momentum newly infecting their favourites.  “We’ve got super Nigel Pearson,” they sang throughout this win. And no wonder. The third manager at Vicarage Road this season has now delivered 13 points in six games since being appointed. From looking already marooned, under him Watford are destined for mid table. 

“We talked very early on about the fact that we would have to have a substantial run at some point,” Pearson said. “We are having a good run at the moment but I am not naive enough to think these things carry on indefinitely without working at it. We probably need to win another six games, maybe more – it depends how it pans out this year – but we have certainly put ourselves in a better position than we were a few weeks ago.”

As it happened

There was much excitement after the game as phones were proffered displaying the table showing Watford out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.  Nobody in the away end wanted to head for the exits as we stayed to cheer our heroes.  The Nigel Pearson chant had had a good airing, but there was always time for another chorus as well as chants for Deeney, Doucouré and anyone else who attracted our attention.  Then lovely Nate Chalobah came over and pumped his fists at the crowd and was greeted with a cheer.  A repeat fist pump elicited the same reaction.  He headed away from us and the crowd responded with ‘oooooooohhhh’, he turned around and pumped his fist and was rewarded with another cheer.  This was repeated another couple of times before he reached Pearson in the centre of the field and the two of them pumped their fists in unison.  I know that this loses a lot in the telling but it was a gorgeous moment and I had a tear in my eye at the togetherness.

On a sunny Sunday by the the sea, Watford emphatically beat the Cherries and are now in 17th and out of the relegation zone.

Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary   Goals: 1  2  3

Match Report: AFC Bournemouth 3-3 Watford

Deeney: “It’s Nice To Score”

Gracia: “Scoring Three Away, You Have To Win”

Mariappa: “We’ll Take The Point And Move On”

Highlights: AFC Bournemouth 3-3 Watford

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Gallery: AFC Bournemouth v Watford

Watford score three but still have to settle for a point against Bournemouth

Watford and Bournemouth share six goals in New Year opener

Watford head coach Javi Gracia pleased with Ben Foster after Bournemouth draw

AFC Bournemouth vs Watford: Javi Gracia admits he’s ‘never see a first half like that’

Watford player ratings: How we scored the Hornets at AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth vs Watford: Troy Deeney claims Dan Gosling tried ‘to do’ Tom Cleverley

Adrian Mariappa becomes 25th player to make 300 Watford appearances

Watford captain Troy Deeney said “Sunday League” defending contributed to his side’s astonishing 3-3 draw at Bournemouth, with all six goals arriving in a frenetic first half. “It was an end-to-end game that could have been 6-6,” said Deeney, who scored two of his side’s goals.

Troy Deeney’s two goals gave Watford a commanding lead (14 & 27) before Bournemouth responded in quickfire fashion with goals from Nathan Ake (34) and Callum Wilson (37). Seconds later, Ken Sema put Watford back in front again with a fine half-volley (38) before Ryan Fraser levelled the game with a composed finish (40) in an action-packed first half.

Though bad tempered, the second half settled into a more predictable pattern. 

Deeney accused Dan Gosling of trying “to do Tom Cleverley” and also claimed the referee “bottled it on a few occasions”.

At half time, a number of supporters from each team were invited on to the pitch for a “beer goggles” penalty shoot-out.  I couldn’t help but wonder if the defenders had been wearing these goggles for the last 15 minutes of the half.