Team in focus: Bournemouth - strengths, weaknesses and prospects

Premier League

Watford 0 Bournemouth 0

Watford v Bournemouth match report

Winless Watford went into the match as narrow favourites but were grateful to add another point to their total after goalkeeper Ben Foster saved them from suffering a sixth league defeat of the campaign.

The match ebbed and flowed but Bournemouth had the clearer chances and were denied spectacularly by Foster when Arnaut Danjuma's close-range effort was saved on the stroke of half-time.

Earlier in the half Steve Cook's header thudded against Foster's crossbar and substitute Harry Wilson went mightily close with an 86th-minute free-kick which grazed the right post.

Watford had their moments with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Gerard Deulofeu squandering decent chances but they were hanging on for a draw towards the finish.

Bournemouth tactics

Eddie Howe went with an attacking 4-4-2 formation with pacy duo Joshua King and Callum Wilson playing through the middle and Danjuma and Ryan Fraser offering offensive options on the flanks.

His side were outnumbered three to two in midfield but Jefferson Lerma and Phil Billing got through a mountain of work and laid an excellent foundation, allowing the Cherries to boss the possession percentages 60 to 40 in their favour.

Bournemouth strengths

King and Callum Wilson were a constant threat with their pace, movement and physicality – ensuring Watford's back three were always kept on their toes.

The midfield pairing of Lerma and Billing were excellent out of possession and Bournemouth's back four looked solid although they were up against a home attack weakened by the absences of key duo Danny Welbeck and Troy Deeney.

Bournemouth weaknesses

Howe's 4-4-2 usually allows his team to counter effectively but it didn't quite work out at Watford because the opposition were well organised and reluctant to get drawn out of their defensive shape.

Bournemouth had more time and space on the ball than they might have expected but often struggled to unlock a stubborn defence.

A lack of creativity was an issue although Harry Wilson made a difference when he came on for Danjuma.

Bournemouth goalscorer bets

The obvious threats are the club's leading scorers Callum Wilson and King, who are usually given plenty of respect by the bookmakers.

But Bournemouth also get plenty of goals from their wingers and there were encouraging signs from Danjuma, who was keen to get into the box and had their best chance of the game.

View from Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe

"I am frustrated on the one hand, but on the other hand we could have lost the game.

"Keeping a clean sheet away from home is positive but having our third game without scoring is certainly a negative."

"We don't normally struggle to score but at least we did not struggle to create chances."

Bournemouth prospects

Bournemouth are ninth and there is no reason why they cannot maintain a challenge for a top-half finish.

Defensively they seem to be improving – only six top-flight rivals have conceded fewer goals – and they have plenty of weapons in attack.

There were times when they lacked subtlety and creativity but they had a better balance after Harry Wilson's introduction and can look forward to the return from injury of David Brooks.

How did Watford play?

Quique Sanchez Flores is trying to build from the back and has been keen to accentuate the positives after steering the Hornets to draws at home to Sheffield United and Bournemouth and away at Tottenham.

But Watford lost the shot count in each of those games and will need to show much more in attack to have a good chance of survival.

Deeney is rumoured to be closing in on a return from injury and his physical presence and leadership will be crucial to changing the dynamic of their season.

Watford v Bournemouth teams

Watford 3-5-1-1: Foster; Kabasele, Dawson, Cathcart; Janmaat, Cleverley (Hughes 10), Chalobah (Gray 57), Doucoure, Masina (Foulquier 73); Pereyra; Deulofeu.

Bournemouth 4-4-2: Ramsdale; Smith, Cook, Ake, Rico; Fraser, Lerma, Billing, Danjuma (H Wilson 61); C Wilson (Solanke 74), King.

Next three fixtures

Watford: Chelsea (h), Norwich (a), Burnley (h)

Bournemouth:Manchester United (h), Newcastle (a), Wolves (h)

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport