Eddie Howe was “bitterly disappointed” Bournemouth left Vicarage Road without a win this afternoon but acknowledged Craig Cathcart’s equaliser was “right out of the top drawer”.

Having missed a penalty and seen a goal disallowed for offside, the visitors took the lead when Harry Arter fired a superb 25-yard strike past Heurelho Gomes. But Watford got back on terms with seven minutes remaining when the Cherries failed to clear their lines on two occasions when Juan Carlos Paredes played a ball into the penalty area and Craig Cathcart fired a volley past Artur Boruc from 12 yards yards.

Watford Observer:

The Cherries boss said: “[It’s] another game for us that we’re bitterly disappointed that we haven’t taken three points. It’s been the story of our short season so far, apart from the first two games where we’ve obviously got the three points. The challenge for us is to keep going, keep our heads and if we keep continuing to produce performances like this we’ll get a lot more points.”

Asked if his side could have done better defensively in the build-up to the Hornets’ leveller, Howe conceded: “Possibly the two challenges in the box we could have dealt with better but the finish is right out of the top drawer and left our keeper with no chance. It’s been the pattern for us, not conceding chances but anyone that does come around is usually taken by the opposition and that’s tough.

“When you’re going through this type of spell it’s tough to take because we got ourselves in some great positions and with some more clinical actions around the box we would have won the game, probably comfortably in the end.”

Watford Observer:

Bournemouth should have taken the lead inside the first five minutes when Gabriel Tamas brought down Callum Wilson in the area. But before Ian Harte missed the spot-kick, referee Oliver Langford decided to not even show the Hornets defender a yellow card.

“For me my immediate thought is going to be red or yellow,” Howe said. “Obviously we were hoping for red and felt it probably was justified, but for the referee to not even book Tamas I find an amazing decision when you consider that Callum was clean through on goal.”

“You’d love to score a penalty and you don’t expect Ian Harte to miss the target with his left foot and what he’s done down the years,” he continued. “It was a difficult one and it was a challenge but I don’t think it affected our performance in any way, we dusted ourselves down and got on with it and I thought Callum gave them problems in behind all day. I can’t be too disappointed with the players.”

The Cherries manager also admitted Watford might have had a case for a penalty in the second half when Ikechi Anya went down in the area after being challenged by Simon Francis.

Watford Observer:

“It was one of those ones where the referee has to make a decision,” Howe said.” I think there is a decision to make. I wouldn’t say it’s a clear-cut, no, but I think it’s a 50/50 call.”