AFC Bournemouth
Luther Blissett believes consistency will be key over the closing weeks of the season if his former clubs are to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Blissett, Watford’s all-time record appearance-maker and goalscorer, was also AFC Bournemouth’s leading marksman for three seasons in succession between 1988 and 1991.
He will be more than an interested spectator when the Hornets and the Cherries battle for crucial Championship points at Vitality Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm kick-off).
Watford consolidated third place after winning 3-2 at Blackburn on Wednesday, while the Cherries slipped out of the top six following their 2-1 defeat by Cardiff.
Both clubs have experienced fluctuating fortunes since suffering relegation in 2019/20 following five years in the top flight, having gone up together in 2014/15.
The Hornets parted company with head coach Vladimir Ivic in December after winning nine of their first 20 league games, while Jason Tindall left his post in January following four defeats on the trot.
Blissett, who netted 186 goals in 503 games in three spells with Watford, said neither team could afford many more slip-ups if they were to challenge for the top two.
Snapped up by Harry Redknapp for £60,000 from Watford in November 1988, Blissett hit 60 goals in 142 games in all competitions, winning the club’s Golden Boot in 88/89, 89/90 and 90/91.
Previewing the game for afcb.co.uk, Blissett said: “After Eddie Howe had decided it was time to move on, it was a case of starting again for Bournemouth.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, there’s a period of time when things have to settle and find direction again. For Bournemouth, it looked as if they were beginning to do that.
“Sometimes, maybe they over-played too much when they should have just gone for the jugular but that can happen when you have players with ability.
“In the Championship, you have to grab games by the scruff of the neck and show people what you are going to do.
“There were periods in games when the football Bournemouth were playing was fantastic but they didn’t get to that level of consistency and that’s what most clubs are looking for.
“There is a mix of clubs in the Championship and the ones that find consistency for the longest period and recover quickly when they have that little down will get the automatic places.
“Watford have sorted out some of the issues defensively to make them better but didn’t really address what for me is the most important side – scoring goals.
“There weren’t enough games where the opposition goalkeeper was having to make saves to stop Watford winning.
“Yes, they were tight at the back but we all know in a game that’s tight, it just takes an error or a little bit of a lack of judgement and the game can be lost. At times, that’s what was happening.”
Blissett added: “The game at Vicarage Road earlier in the season was a good game, not an outstanding game.
“Tactically, you could see both teams wanted to win it and, at that stage of the season, you could see the strength in each team if they could just do that more and more.
“I’m looking forward to the game. Hopefully, the best team on the day will win it. That’s always my attitude when the two clubs meet and, generally, in football.
“If you play the game the right way, which means you go out and attack and defend properly, then if you’re the better team on the day, generally you win the game.”
