Bournemouth 2 Watford 2: Hosts come from behind twice
Despite a dominant Bournemouth performance, they required a late Benik Afobe equaliser to take a point at home to Watford.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DYhmYFSnxMSo6y8nrXH5Xe.jpg)
Bournemouth twice fought back to draw 2-2 with Watford at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday as both sides' wait for a Premier League win in 2017 goes on.
Eddie Howe's men had thrown away a three-goal lead to draw with Arsenal in their last home game, but here the boot was on the other foot as Benik Afobe secured a hard-earned point with an 82nd-minute strike.
Bournemouth were the better side throughout but found themselves behind to goals from Christian Kabasele and Troy Deeney, both from corners.
Although Josh King levelled the scores at 1-1 shortly after half-time, it looked as though the hosts' poor defending from set-pieces would prove costly.
However, Afobe slipped a low finish under the goalkeeper with eight minutes remaining to equalise once more.
While victory had seemed within Watford's grasp, this result was enough to end a five-game losing run away from home.
Jack Wilshere created the hosts' first opening, delicately lifting a pass onto Ryan Fraser's head, with Heurelho Gomes forced to scramble back and turn over the subsequent attempt.
With Wilshere central to Bournemouth's attacking efforts, Gomes saved again from the England international's stinging 25-yard drive.
However, against the run of play, Watford took the lead after 24 minutes.
A slack Fraser pass allowed Stefano Okaka to win a corner and, from the set-piece, Miguel Britos nodded back across goal for Kabasele to turn a header into the corner.
Tom Cleverley dragged a low strike wide, but Bournemouth ended the first half on the front foot as Gomes dived at full stretch once again to keep out Junior Stanislas' deflected, looping shot.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
And within three minutes of the restart, Howe's men were level.
Adam Smith took up possession on the right-hand side, touched the ball through Abdoulaye Doucoure's legs and tore away towards the touchline to centre for King, who coolly swept home.
Back came Watford, with Artur Boruc tipping Jose Holebas' powerful blast around the post, before Gomes helped Fraser's curler wide at the other end.
Again, though, the hosts' pressure counted for little as Walter Mazzarri's side regained the lead from another corner with just under half an hour remaining.
Boruc came to meet Cleverley's delivery, but Deeney got there first to flick a header over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Bournemouth renewed their attacking intent once more after the goal, though, and, with their only real chance, equalised again.
Andrew Surman slid Afobe through, with the former Arsenal forward turning a smart finish past Gomes to secure a point.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack