Watford 0-0 Bournemouth

Watford 0-0 Bournemouth

Assuming they can remember this dreary contest in a few months, Bournemouth may look back on this as a critical point gained in their bid for survival. But they may yet regret their lack of punch in front of goal.

The visitors wore pink and made a pretty bright start. Eddie Howe’s team have had more success on the road than at home this season and, driven by that knowledge and a real need to amass more points to remain above the danger zone, they tore into their hosts from kick-off. Their intent was bold but their attacking awfully blunt in a first period in which Heurelho Gomes was redundant.

Artur Boruc was only a little more busy. The visiting goalkeeper made an important stop from Odion Igahlo in the second minute, the Nigerian striker shooting from 12 yards after leaving Harry Arter and Steve Cook trailing behind him as he bounded down the right and into the box.

Ighalo eluded his opponents again in the ninth minute to collect a cross from Juan Carlos Paredes. He spun sharply but slashed wide from seven yards.

That was the extent of the notable goalmouth action in a half in which both sides worked diligently but neither could summon the wit to infiltrate. There was, at least, something to smile about in the 21st minute, as Max Gradel returned to action for the first time since tearing knee ligaments in August. Unfortunately, hamstring trouble for Junior Stanislas was the reason for Gradel’s introduction from the bench but it was heartening, nonetheless, to see the Ivorian back on a pitch. He was the first of a trio of key Bournemouth players to damage knee ligaments this season. One of those other casualties, Callum Wilson, remains the club’s top Premier League scorer despite being missing since September. Benik Afobe has generally spearheaded the attack well since joining in January but he barely got a touch in the first half here.

Bournemouth, the more hungry for victory, began to bear fangs in the second half. They cut the home defence open wickedly in the 55th minute, as Gradel and Andrew Surman pinged passes back and forth on the edge of the area, but Miguel Britos recovered sufficiently to deflect Gradel’s ensuing shot wide.

Five minutes later, after more high-paced probing by the visitors, Harry Arter tried to curl a shot beyond Gomes from 20 yards but the Brazilian tipped the ball behind the post with one hand.

The visitors’ impudence seemed to provoke a reaction from Watford. Nordin Amrabat, the January acquisition from Malaga, scorched past Charlie Daniels in the 67th minute before presenting Ighalo with a marvellous chance to open the scoring but the striker mistimed his header, failing to hit the target from six yards. Two minutes later, as if to confirm that Watford’s front duo’s sight were misaligned, Troy Deeney fired wide from the edge of the area after Ben Watson teed him up from a free-kick. Watford’s next chance from another freekick, this time from the left wing. Britos met it and tried to flick the ball goalward from 12 yards but, yet again, the goalkeeper was not even required to make a save.

Concerned that Watford were now looking the more likely scorers, Howe took off the ineffective Afobe for the last 15 minutes and cast on Dan Gosling instead. Gosling quickly picked up the pattern of the game, fluffing a chance within a minute of his introduction. Given the poverty of the finishing, Gomes would have been forgiven for being taken by surprise in the 80th minute when Gradel produced a powerful downward header from a cross by Ritchie. But the goalkeeper made a splendid save to deny Gradel a perfect comeback. He then made sure there was no romantic ending for the men in pink by turning away another shot by Gradel in the dying minutes.

Guardian