Bournemouth 2 Watford 2: WATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Benik Afobe’s late equaliser secures point for Cherries after Walter Mazzarri’s side led twice

Watford threw away two leads against Bournemouth in the Premier League after second-half equalisers from Josh King and Benik Afobe.

The Hornets took the lead from a corner which was flicked on by Cherries defender Steve Cook which was headed back across goal by Miguel Britos for Christian Kabasele to finished off.

Eddie Howe's side equalised two minutes after the break through King after Adam Smith drove down the right flank before squaring it to the forward who netted his second goal in four Premier League games.

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But Hornets regained their lead just after the hour mark after even more dodgy defending from Bournemouth during a corner.

On this occasion Troy Deeney beat three defenders to the curling cross to smartly head the ball home after Artur Boruc failed to deal with the cross.

The hosts had the lion share of possesion at the Vitality Stadium and they were rewarded in the 82nd minute after superb equaliser from Afobe.

Andrew Surman slipped in the striker and the second half substitute ran on to the ball and fired it into the bottom corner.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• Christian Kabasele's opener for Watford was only their third goal in six games. No wonder manager Walter Mazzarri admitted this week to suffering sleepless nights.
• Tom Cleverely made his first start after signing on loan for Watford from Everton until the end of the season. The Hornets can only hope he can replicate his last spell here in 2009 when he netted 11 goals. He set up Watford's second goal for Troy Deeney with a corner having last scored in the Premier League himself in April 2016 against...Bournemouth.
• Watford boss Walter Mazzarri was boosted by the return of keeper Heurelho Gomes who had to come off the previous weekend with a back problem.

• These two were promoted together in 2014/-15 after a close battle in the Championship. Bournemouth beat Watford to the title by just one point and again here there was little to separate them.
• Bournemouth have now conceded 11 goals in four matches.

• The Cherries had enough chances to seal victory themselves but were denied by some fine saves from Gomes.
• Adam Smith showed off some lovely skills weaving his way into the Watford box to set up King for Bournemouth's initial leveller.
• Watford are now on a run of seven matches without a win.
• The Cherries need to start bucking up their ideas too if they are to avoid being dragged near the drop zone. They play some lovely football but seem to lack the finishing touch at the moment. They also need to sort out that leaky defence.

BIG PICTURE

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

BOURNEMOUTH: Boruc 5, Smith 6, Cook 6, Mings 6, Daniels 6, Stanislas 6 (Afobe 74, 7), Surman 6, Wilshere 8, Fraser 6 (Pugh 81, 6), King 7 (Ibe 74, 6), Wilson 6.

Unused subs: Federici, Gosling, Arter, B Smith.

Bookings: Cook.

Goals: King, Afobe.

WATFORD:  Gomes 6, Kaboul 6, Prodl 6, Britos 7, Kabasele 7 (Cathcart 85, 6), Cleverley 7, Doucoure 6 (Ighalo 88, 5), Capoue 6, Holebas 6, Deeney 8, Okaka 6 (Janmaat 62, 6).

Unused subs: Zuniga, Sinclair, Pantilimon, Mason.

Bookings: Kaboul, Holebas.

Goals: Kabasele, Deeney.

STAR MAN: Troy Deeney.

WHAT THEY SAID

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It's a strange one for us, as we played so well in patches. They showed great character to bounce back. The goals we conceded were soft from our perspective, ours were great but it's frustrating to give cheap ones away.

"We worked so hard for the goals, but we need to be better at the back for sure."

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri: "I'm disappointed as we deserved to win but made two mistakes and paid the price. But overall, I am happy with the performance.

"We've been playing with young players and a lot of them are growing. This is positive and we are slowly getting the team we want now."