Bournemouth might have take an early lead if Glenn Murray had directed his looping header just under Gomes’ bar rather than just over it from Matt Ritchie’s inswinging cross.
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Murray tarnished his bright first half display by collecting a 43rd minute yellow card for a clash with Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue.
CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe insisted there was “no blame attached” to goalkeeper Artur Boruc after the Pole’s error led to Watford’s equaliser in today’s 1-1 draw at Vitality Stadium.
Watford had made little impact in the first half until Boruc’s calamitous error in first half injury time.
After struggling earlier on, Watford were much better after the break and could have gone on to win, with Ben Watson smashing an effort off the crossbar.
But after a spell in which both sides seemed to sacrifice skill for raw pace and enthusiasm, making for a scrappy contest, the Cherries deservedly took a 28th-minute lead.
But in the 28th minute the same combination yielded the opening goal, with Ritchie’s right-wing cross picking out the unmarked Murray, who headed into the top corner. Simon Francis found Ritchie, who delivered an in-swinging left-footed cross from the right and Murray found space to power a header past Gomes.
Boruc did not get enough on a backpass from Sylvain Distin, gifting Idion Ighalo a tap in that helped the Hornets pocket a point.
Newly-promoted Bournemouth have already experienced their fair share of ups and downs thus far, having managed to bag two wins from seven fixtures.
The second half started a more even affair, Bournemouth clearly rocked by conceding such a needless goal.
Ighalo showed brilliant skill to beat Distin all ends up and his threatening shot was hacked away.
The visitors were enjoying an impressive spell of dominance and Ikechi Anya forced Boruc into a low save after being played in by a precise Almen Abdi pass.
The game was in the 82nd minute when Steve Cook nearly scored one of the all-time great overhead kicks from the edge of the box, but Gomes was at full stretch to claw it wide.
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Watford were then furious with referee Michael Oliver after he gave a penalty for Adam Smith going down after a challenge with Capoue.
