GEBRUS

The former England forward broke a seven-game hoodoo to score his first goal against the Hornets when a long free-kick was flicked on, giving him a simple finish to earn Bournemouths 17th point from a losing position this season.

Watford were hard done by but had only themselves to blame, having earlier blown Kiko Femenias 13th-minute opener when Jose Holebas needlessly handballed in the box, allowing Josh King to equalise from the spot (43).

They reclaimed the lead thanks to Roberto Pereyras deflected effort four minutes into the second half, but Defoes goal denied them the chance to move within a point of ninth-placed Everton, and instead they remain level on points with the Cherries, who are 10th.

 

Nathan Ake struck the bar from Junior Stanislas free-kick at the start of an end-to-end encounter, which the visitors should have led once Josh King robbed Adrian Mariappa before being denied by an outstanding sliding challenge from Sebastian Prodl.

 

Having wasted those two chances, and another which Karnezis stopped from Stanislas at full-stretch, Watford took the lead with their first shot on goal when Holebas corner reached Femenia, who half-volleyed beyond a stranded Asmir Begovic.

The goal gave Watford the belief they had lacked and Femenia came close to a second, but with a half-time lead looking assured Holebas handled to palm Stanislas cross away from Jordon Ibe, and was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch.

 

King sent Karnezis the wrong way to level, but four minutes after the restart Watford restored their advantage when Hughes laid the ball off for Pereyra, whose curled shot took a slight deflection, but left Begovic unmoved.

Bournemouth huffed and puffed without testing Karnezis, until an innocuous foul from substitute Stefano Okaka inside the Cherries half allowed them a chance to pump the ball long.

Steve Cook launched it into the box where Defoe, who had not scored since December, showed his predatory instincts to slot in an equaliser with barely two minutes of the game left.

 

Kiko Femenias opener was his first league goal since netting for Alaves against Athletic Club "B" in the Spanish Segunda Division on May 26th 2016, 674 days ago.

Femenia was the 16th different player to score for Watford in the Premier League this season - only Arsenal have had more (17, excluding own goals).

Josh King has now scored three goals in his last seven league games - he had only managed to find the net twice in his first 20 such games this season.

Will Hughes has had a hand in five goals (two goals, three assists) in nine Premier League games for Watford this season - as many as he managed in 38 Championship games for Derby County last season.