Bournemouth vs Watford: Troy Deeney's goals not enough as Eddie Howe's side twice recover from going behind

Bournemouth 3-3 Watford: Troy Deeney gave Watford a 2-0 lead, then after pulling it back to 2-2, Bournemouth had to respond again after conceding a third

Eddie Howe may have watched periods of a frantic first half that produced six goals - including four in a six minute period - through his fingers but he will be satisfied his side twice recovered to claim a point.

Troy Deeney scored twice to give Watford an early lead but Watford recovered through Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson and then again when Ryan Fraser struck after Ken Sema had restored Watford’s lead.

The early signs were ominous for Bournemouth who quickly demonstrated the kind of defensive weakness that had contributed to them conceding 11 goals in the previous three games. David Brooks and Jefferson Lerma may have had early opportunities to put the home side ahead, Watford quickly discovered they could work their way forward with ease, just as they did when they established a 15th minute lead.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was the central figure as the Hornets advanced down the right, exchanging passes with Kiko Femenia before finding Ken Sema. The winger had time to pick out Deeney who outjumped the home defenders before placing his header past Asmir Begovic.

Then Howe’s side had only themselves to blame when the lead was doubled 12 minutes later. Dab Gosling was the guilty culprit, selling Ake short with a pass inside his own centre circle, present Gerard Deulofeu with the chance to nip in and sprint towards goal, eventually being stopped by Steve Cook’s covering tackle. It was in keeping with Bournemouth’s recent fortunes that the ball broke for Deeney to finish with a right foot shot from the edge of the area.

Bournemouth were in desperate trouble and had Watford demonstrated more composure, they would have remained in control of the game. Instead, Doucoure and Deeney were both booked for fouls on Fraser who was beginning to trouble the visitors with his pace and after the second of those offences, Fraser extracted a degree of revenge. The winger clipped the resulting free-kick into the area where Cook headed across goal towards Gosling. Gosling’s header was saved superbly by Ben Foster but Ake was on hand to finish from close range in the 34th minute.

Three minutes later Bournemouth were level after another Fraser free-kick unsettled the Watford defence. This time he found Wilson who directed an excellent looping header from 15 yards out over Fraser and in at the far post.

Watford had been guilty of losing concentration but they had another chance to assert control on the game when they restored their lead a minute later. Again it was a routine move that led to the goal, this time after Foster delivered a long clearance towards Deeney who got the better of Cook in the air, heading down to Sema who drilled a low shot inside the post.

Troy Deeney struck twice (Action Images via Reuters)

Such was the chaotic nature of the game, it came as little surprise that Bournemouth responded quickly. Junior Stanislas made his way down the right before finding Fraser with the low cross after Wilson and Joshua King had both distracted the Watford defence and the Scotland levelled with a well-placed finish five minutes before the interval.

King might have put Bournemouth ahead in the remaining moments of the first half but for once, the chance was passed up.

The second half was never going to produce as many goals and the game became increasingly niggly with a succession of niggly fouls. Foster, though, did repeat his fine save of the first half, this time from a close range Wilson header and on this occasion he succeeded in diverting the ball to safety.