Watford 0-0 Bournemouth: Hornets' winless start goes on
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Abdoulaye Doucoure fired Watford's best chance over the bar after just 60 seconds
Watford are "getting closer" to their first victory in the Premier League this season, says manager Quique Sanchez Flores, despite their winless start stretching to 10 games with a goalless draw against Bournemouth.
The Hornets, who stay bottom of the table, should have taken the lead after 60 seconds but Abdoulaye Doucoure blazed over from 12 yards.
Gerard Deulofeu hit the post and had a shot well saved at the start of the second half by Aaron Ramsdale but Bournemouth also struck the woodwork twice.
Steve Cook directed a header onto the crossbar in the first half and Harry Wilson grazed the post with a free-kick late on, while Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster brilliantly blocked Arnaut Danjuma's close-range shot in the 45th minute.
The draw is Watford's third in a row but they remain without a league win since April.
"We had our chances, we did not concede goals and we had a good team spirit and this is really good for the future," Flores said.
"I think the first win is getting closer, the difference with the other teams (at the bottom) is not so big and I'm really confident for the future."
The goalless draw is Bournemouth's second in a row and means they have failed to score in their last three games.
Toothless Watford still waiting for win
Watford 0-0 Bournemouth: Watford players nervous in front of goal - Flores
The point is another to Watford's total as they try to climb the early season table but the performance once again showed they have big problems in front of goal, especially with captain Troy Deeney out injured.
Deeney watched on as his side drew a blank for the sixth time in the league this season with the Hornets failing to add to the five goals they have scored this campaign - the joint lowest total alongside Newcastle.
Doucoure and Deulofeu missed Watford's two big chances at the beginning of each half and frustration grew inside Vicarage Road as the home side failed to make the most of promising counter-attacking positions.
The only positive for Watford was the clean sheet which came thanks to Foster's good saves and a slice of luck with the two Bournemouth efforts which hit the woodwork.
The Cherries did not create many clear opportunities and since conceding eight goals at Manchester City last month, Watford have only let in three goals in four league games.
Afterwards Flores praised his side's defending but admitted his players are "nervous" in front of goal.
"Defending well is a good base, but I feel when we are in the opposition's box that the players are still a little bit nervous and they can sometimes take bad decisions," he said.
Cherries struggling for goals too
Howe frustrated with Bournemouth's lack of goals
Bournemouth dominated possession - having 60% of the ball in the match - and probably created the better chances but they have now failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2017.
Danjuma, making his first Premier League start, should have scored in the first half when he met Joshua King's cross unmarked but could not put his effort out of Foster's reach.
Striker Callum Wilson was not given any service - touching the ball fewer times than any other Bournemouth starter (17) and failing to have a shot - and his team-mates were equally ineffectual.
Ryan Fraser had a chance late in stoppage time but he was denied from a tight angle by Foster while, in the first half, full-back Diego Rico smashed a half-volley from the edge of the area on target but watched it be expertly parried away.
The point takes the Cherries to eighth but they are without a win in five games in all competitions.
"I am frustrated on one hand, but on the other hand we could have also lost the game," manager Eddie Howe said.
"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 today at least we did not struggle to create chances."
Man of the match - Ben Foster (Watford)
Foster made five saves in the match and without him Watford may well have lost
Watford's unwanted record - the best stats
Watford have become the first team to fail to win any of their opening 10 games in a Premier League season on two occasions, with the Hornets also doing so in 2006-07.
Bournemouth have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2017, while this is the first time they've had back-to-back goalless draws in the competition.
Watford are winless in nine home league games - only in December 2004 (10) have they ever had a longer run without a win at Vicarage Road in league competition.
Watford have failed to score in a league-high six Premier League games this season.
There were eight yellow cards between Watford and Bournemouth today, no other Premier League match has seen more so far this season.
Watford's Gerard Deulofeu (2 attempts, 1 on target today) has had more shots (24) and more shots on target (10) without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season.
What's next?
Watford play Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night (kick-off at 19:45 GMT) while their next league game is against Chelsea at Vicarage Road on Saturday (kick-off at 15:00 GMT).
Bournemouth host Manchester United on Saturday in their next game (12:30 GMT kick-off).