AFC Bournemouth welcome Watford to Vitality Stadium for the opening home game of the new 2017/18 Premier League season this weekend.
Here, afcb.co.uk assess five key points ahead of the visit of Marco Silva’s side.
Drawing lots
Six of the last seven meetings between the two sides have ended level. The one anomaly to that sequence came at Vitality Stadium during the 2014/15 campaign, when goals from Yann Kermorgant and Matt Ritchie secured three points after an early Gabriele Angella sending off.
There’s nothing to split the overall record between the two sides, either, with both having registered 35 league wins apiece.
| AFC Bournemouth wins | Draws | Watford wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| League | 35 | 32 | 35 |
| League Cup | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 36 | 38 |
Away days
You have to go back to December 1997 for the last time the away side won in this fixture. The Hornets came out on top on the south coast thanks to a solitary goal from Peter Kennedy.
The Cherries’ last away win came in April at Sunderland, whilst you have to go back to October 2016 for Watford’s last victory away from Vicarage Road.
Hornets head coach Silva will also be hoping to register his first away victory on these shores. Since arriving in England as Hull City head coach last January, Silva is yet to taste victory on the road in nine attempts (seven defeats, two draws).
Attacking options
The weekend’s game could be the first opportunity for Cherries fans to see frontman Jermain Defoe back in black and red. The England international, who re-joined the club this summer after a previous loan spell on the south coast during the 2000/01 season, could be set for just his second outing back at Vitality Stadium after facing Valencia as part of our pre-season preparations.
Defoe appeared as a second-half substitute in the season opener at West Brom, and faces competition for a starting spot with the likes of Benik Afobe, Joshua King and Lys Mousset.
Watford boss Marco Silva also has a number of attacking options from which to select. Record signing Andre Gray could be made to wait for his first Hornets start, after Stefano Okaka’s impressive showing against Liverpool.
Club captain Troy Deeney could also make a return from injury.
Flying the flag
Despite completing the signing of homegrown players Tom Cleverley, Will Hughes, Nathaniel Chalobah and Gray, the Hornets’ squad still contains a total of 18 different nationalities.
Eddie Howe’s squad on the other hand is largely made up of domestic players, with just eight players originating outside of the UK and Ireland.
Two differing approaches from two sides who are both entering their third consecutive seasons in England’s top flight.
A work of Art
Supporters may recall Harry Arter’s stellar season in front of goal during the club’s 2014/15 promotion-winning season. On the way to lifting the Championship title, Arter weighed in with nine goals from midfield, one of which a spectacular drive from distance at Vicarage Road.
In two Premier League seasons that have since followed Arter has found the net twice, a record he himself admits he is keen to improve.
Time for another blockbuster against Watford, Harry?
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