Quique Sanchez Flores stressed the invaluable experience Heurelho Gomes brings to Watford after the Brazilian’s penalty save from Glenn Murray helped the Hornets clinch a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

The Golden Boys fell behind in the 28th minute when Murray rose highest to head home Matt Ritchie’s cross.

However, Flores’ men were level at the break thanks to a mistake from Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The Polish goalkeeper attempted a pass but Odion Ighalo was quick to intercept. The Nigerian striker kept his composure to manoeuvre around Boruc and tap into an empty net.

In the second period Ben Watson struck the crossbar for the Hornets but the key moment arrived with seven minutes remaining.

Adam Smith and Etienne Capoue collided and referee Michael Oliver awarded a controversial spot kick.

Murray stepped up but his effort was saved and the Golden Boys held on to clinch a point. And speaking after the game Flores was quick to praise his goalkeeper.

He said: “Everyone knows what Heurelho can do. He is not just important on the pitch, he is important in the dressing room. He transmits passion and has lived through many matches before. He is very important.”

“I am pleased,” Flores added. “It is always difficult when you are playing away to win points. Bournemouth are a very tough opponent and they tried to stop the way we play. I was very happy with the performance of the players in the first 20 to 25 minutes of the first half.

“I am really happy with the performance of the team in the second half. We played with more personality and we had clearer chances in the first 25 minutes of the second half.

“If during 60 minutes of a 90 minute game you can control the game then that is good.”

Flores claimed he didn’t have a clear view of the incident which led to Bournemouth being awarded a spot kick and the Spaniard instead focused on the fact his side have conceded two penalties in his last two matches.

“When a penalty is saved in the last minutes of course that is a key point of the game,” he said.

“We want to avoid these kind of situations. We talked a lot during the week, including before the match, about taking care of the little details.

“A team like us needs to control the little details. Conceding two penalties in two matches isn’t doing that.

“I haven’t seen if it was a penalty or not. We try and respect the referee and we want to avoid these kind of actions. We don’t want to put the result at risk.

“Heurelho is helping us keep the balance between defence and attack. We have conceded six goals in eight matches and that is because we are defending well and because Heurelho is making saves.”

Jose Manuel Jurado missed today’s game with a hamstring injury and Flores admits the creative Spaniard could be ruled out for two to three weeks.

However, Flores insists that presents an opportunity to other members of his squad.

He said: “We lost Jurado but we have (Ikechi) Anya and (Nathan) Ake. I don’t like losing players but when we do it is a new opportunity for other players. So today we welcomed Ake and that is a good opportunity for us.”