It’s never dull when we play Watford and today was no different. In apocalyptic conditions and a thumping atmosphere Bournemouth came from behind to snatch a draw and missed a penalty which would have gifted three vital points.
Lewis Grabban was the surprise centre point. This time yesterday most fans had written him out the equation but he rejected Brightons bid and got a little richer in the process. He led the the line again today and could have had the perfect afternoon but he missed the second of his two penalties with Watford on the rack and down to ten men.
Eddie made one change from the last league outing with Pugh returning for Fraser. It was a tense opening with both sides playing attractive football with little cutting edge. Watford had a good 4-1-3-2 shape which allowed them to press and they worked hard to stop us getting the ball out wide. They enjoyed marginally the better of the opening period and Bournemouth were very fortunate when Mcgugan fluffed his lines ten yards out following a quick break.
Bournemouth then started to dominate but once again the old failings of getting nobody in the box surfaced. Time and time again our wingers looked up but seeing no-one to cross too came back across the pitch to try the other wing – for the same result. This meant the only chances came from distance with Surman and Ritchie not troubling Almunia.
It seemed odd that everytime Watford broke they got four players in the box but twice we broke with Grabban on the wing and when he got to the by-line nobody was in the box. Its a conundrum Eddie needs to sort fast. The best chance of the half for the home team came from an excellent break involving Surman and Pugh who laid back to Ritchie but his deflected thunderbolt just cleared the bar.
Watford then edged their way back in and Camp made a fantastic save at full stretch to keep out Battochios deflected daisy cutter. The game was warming up now and Pugh got released clean through but blazed wildly over with his wrong foot when the goal was at his mercy.
Just as it looked as if we were going into the break all square Elphick needlessly pushed Deeney on the wing and the Hornet’s top scorer swung over a perfect freekick for ANGELLA to rise unchallenged to thump a header past Camp. It must have been frustrating for Howe having watched the same centre half scoring an identical goal against us at Vicarage Road.
HT AFCB 0 Watford 1
The second half started in solid rain with Watford in comfort mode and Bournemouth again failing to get men forwards and then gifting Watford the ball at the end of most intricate moves. Too often players refused to shoot in good positions, particularly Surman, and it looked like it was going to be a frustrating afternoon.
It was going to take something very different to change the day and it came when Grabban turned onto a ball in the box and was pulled down by Angella when about to pull the trigger. Referee Boyeson pointed to the spot and sent the giant centre half off. GRABBAN calmy slotted the ball to Almunia’s left to level the game.
This sparked a frenetic display of total Bournemouth domination that battered the ten men into near submission. Surman curled inches wide, Daniels thumped a 25 yarder that just missed the foot of the post. With Watford clinging on O’Kane released Pugh clean through and the winger rounded Almunia only to be brought down by Hall. The referee pointed to the spot again but this time elected not to produce a red. Strange – they either both were or neither.
So we faced the seminal moment of the match. Grabban stepped up and placed his penalty in exactly the same place, Almunia read it though and blocked. In an amazing next five seconds the former Arsenal stopper then pulled off two phenomenal reflex stages to keep out rebound efforts from Ritchie and O’Kane to save the day and earn his name sung for the remainder of it. Bournemouth continued to press with Ward flicking a header just wide.
Eddie then called on the Rantie/Pitman double act with Pugh and Surman making way. Strangely this seemed to make us less effective as we had less width and Watford were able to camp in and condense us. For the next ten minutes and seven minutes of injury time Bournemouth had all the possession but fashioned very little against the two camped lines of four. Pitman fired a volley from a corner just over and Pudil joined Almunia in the heroes ranks when he threw himself to block a stinging goal bound Ritchie drive.
FT AFCB 1 Watford 1
Camp – 7 One excellent save and smart handling
Francis 7 Attacked cleverly and defended sharply when called upon
Elphick 6 Lacked composure at times but fairly decent as last line
Ward 7 Moved ball well and dominant in the air
Daniels 7 Lively bursts and constant involvement
Ritchie 6 Not as accurate or dominating as when first returned. Alright.
Arter 6 Fairly quiet and did grunt work rather than dictate play.
Surman 6 Better first half but faded – not getting in box enough.
O’Kane 8 Another superb game reading and prompting performance
Pugh 6 Wasteful in the first half, better second.
Grabban 6 Worked his socks off and flashes of skill, lacked penetration
Verdict
Eddie will see this as two points lost against close rivals in the table. Grabban has never missed a penalty and it was a shame he started today because there would have been no coming back. In reality we only started commiting men forwards when against ten men and however exciting the ending we need to bear this in mind. Time and time again in the first half we steadfastly refused to commit men into the box and the wingers cut back inside to get on to their good foot but this was expected and they were stopped. It’s getting a little predictable and surely swapping wings to allow them to whip an early ball in now and again would be good?
Arter and Surman also need to be told to be in the box on every attack. I thought Watford looked fitter than us as they were able to do this constantly whereas on the rare occasions we do we struggle to get back. This means we allow teams to settle against us and do a lot of playing the ball around looking good but with no end product.
We haven’t scored a goal in open play in three games and with a tough run of fixtures coming up it needs addressing. We either have to sign midfielders that can play as part of a two allowing an extra forward or get the ones we have to attack the ball in the box.
Once Watford stopped looking to press and started looking to hang on we committed men forwards far more and looked dangerous as a result. We have the players to hurt teams but we are not quite lining them up right. Pitman and Rantie made lots of runs when they came on but had to continually check back when the ball didn’t come.
As ever though, it was an entertaining afternoon and against the same players that put six past us earlier in the season it shows the squad improvement. Onwards to the scousers and another intriguing clash that will no doubt give us value for money once again.
Report by Neil Dawson
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