Eddie Howe felt Christian Kabasele could have been sent off for his challenge on Asmir Begovic but was “absolutely delighted” with Bournemouth’s 4-0 victory over Watford.

The Hornets defender was walking a disciplinary tightrope after receiving an early booking for leading with his arm when he challenged the Cherries keeper, and he received a second caution for his foul on Callum Wilson which led to the visitors doubling their lead through a Joshua King penalty.

Asked about Kabasele’s first booking, the Bournemouth boss said: “I’m only just very quickly seen it on the screen before coming in and the first one looked nasty, a dangerous one for Asmir with the elbow coming across him.

"I’m not sure where it caught him but that could easily have been a red itself, but the fact it was two yellows was the right call.”

Howe described the win as “a great result for us” after goals from David Brooks, King’s brace and Wilson and continued: “I’m absolutely delighted with that, I think we have played better but we are certainly pleased not just with the result but our league position off the back of it.

The visitors had particular joy from attacking Watford out wide but Howe said: “I don’t think it was necessarily something we over-emphasised before the game, but it’s part of what we do.

“I thought we counter-attacked well today. I thought it was an incisive, efficient performance rather than a totally dominant one.

“I’m really pleased with some of the defensive aspects of today because we know Watford are a very physical team, set plays, every restart is a contest and we dealt with that well.”