AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Watford 19/08/2017

AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Watford

Away team scorers
de Andrade Richarlison 73
Etienne Capoue 86

Marco Silva earned his first away win in the Premier League as his Watford team grew in strength to claim a deserved victory over Bournemouth.

It is early days in the season but Eddie Howe’s side were physically unable to cope with the visitors and failed to take the chances that came their way in the match.

The first half was an evenly matched affair with neither side entirely able to impose their game on the other. Bournemouth interchanged position at will, looking for intricate passes. Watford worked more straightforward, quick triangles, looking to push the ball wide to Brazilian signing Richarlison or up long to Andre Gray.

Bournemouth created the first good chance within seven minutes. Harry Arter’s slide-rule pass from deep split the Watford defence for Josh King. His cross was met by Ryan Fraser, who shot low at Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian could only parry the drive but Benik Afobe put the rebound over.

Afobe had another chance on the half hour, his fierce effort saved by Gomes after Steve Cook had surprised everyone with a long pass from defence. For Watford Nathaniel Chalobah should have scored with a header and Gray managed to put the ball over from six yards after Richarlison had left Simon Francis for dead in added time.

The second half began at a frenetic pace and space began to open up for both sides. Afobe had another chance but was unable to get decent contact on a super cross from Fraser. Up the other end Chalobah had two wonderful opportunities that he spurned even more egregiously. The first saw the England Under-21 international opt to dummy a Nordin Amrabat cutback rather than shoot from 15 yards out. Five minutes later and Bournemouth lost the ball, presenting Chalobah with the entire home half to run into. He advanced on Asmir Begovic but could only fire his shot against the goalkeeper’s shins.

Howe withdrew Afobe for Jermain Defoe and Jordon Ibe for Danny Pugh but Watford were getting a grip on the game. Richarlison had a left-foot volley well saved by Begovic, who also blocked Gray at his near post. Then in the 73th minute, the visitors finally broke through. Pugh, in an advanced position, attempted to flick the ball past Kiko Femenía, but failed. The Spaniard sprung the ball to Chalobah who was once again in acres of space. He ran 50 yards and slid in Gray whose cut back was converted at the second attempt by Richarlison.

It was a deserved goal for the striker and he could have scored again two minutes later but a header drifted just wide of the far post. He was withdrawn with 10 minutes to go for Etienne Capoue to the strains of a chant Watford fans have already devised for him.

Bournemouth tried to rally and King could have done better with a headed opportunity that came to him quickly off Defoe’s flick. But Watford were not about to be denied. A sparkling passage of play in the 86th minute ended with the ball falling to Capoue 25 yards out and he lashed it home into the corner of the net.

Guardian