Budget defenders the real winners of Watford’s draw with Bournemouth

Watford 0-0 Bournemouth

Goals: None

Assists: None

Bonus Points: Ben Foster x3 (£4.8m), Nathan Aké x2 (£4.9m), Craig Cathcart x1 (£4.4m), Aaron Ramsdale x1 (£4.5m)

Watford and Bournemouth played out a lively 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road that saw the home side extend their winless run to ten games.

Fantasy Premier League managers may also be increasingly concerned about the Cherries’ recent goal drought.

However, there does appear to have been a significant improvement for both Watford and Bournemouth in defence, offering up some potentially viable budget options.

Eddie Howe’s side have now failed to score in three consecutive league games as the early-season form of Callum Wilson (£8.0m) continues to feel a long time ago.

The England international delivered attacking returns in each of the first seven Gameweeks of 2019/20 but has now blanked in the last three – two of those favourable meetings with Norwich and Watford.

Wilson’s striking partner Josh King (£6.3m), who was benched for Gameweek 9, was restored to the starting line-up but looked a shadow of his former self too.

The former Blackburn Rovers man, who has scored two goals and registered three assists so far this season, now has just two attacking returns since Gameweek 6.

Ryan Fraser (£7.1m) and Arnaut Danjuma (£5.8m), making his first league start of the campaign, did their best to add some width to the 4-4-2 formation but could not serve up the goods.

Howe stated his concern post-match at his side’s lack of goals in recent weeks.

“Keeping a clean sheet away from home is positive, but having our third game without scoring is certainly a negative. We don’t normally struggle to score but today at least we did not struggle to create chances.” – Eddie Howe

Bournemouth now have a testing run of fixtures over the next seven Gameweeks, in which they face four of last season’s top-six.

Whether Wilson and King can be considered worthy of investment after having blanked against relegation candidates Norwich and Watford remains to be seen.

Next week’s clash against Manchester United could be a make-or-break occasion for those managers in ownership of either of the Cherries’ attacking duo.

Perhaps Fantasy managers should start turning their attention to the other end of Bournemouth’s squad as they kept a second successive clean sheet in Gameweek 10.

This highlights, in particular, the value of Diego Rico (£4.2m), who impressed against Watford and could have added to his attacking returns, as he continues to share corner-taking duties with Fraser.

The left-back unleashed a powerful shot from distance in the first half, forcing a save out of Ben Foster (£4.8m).

It must be said though that Bournemouth were helped in this latest clean sheet by a continued lack of cutting edge from Watford.

The Hornets should have arguably gone in front after Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.7m) missed a golden opportunity to assert an early level of control over the visitors. 

Quique Sanches Flores’ side continued to look lively throughout the afternoon’s fixture, with Gerard Deulofeu (£6.1m) striking the post directly from a corner too.

This was the sixth time this season that Watford have failed to score in the league this season, with their five goals scored the joint-lowest of any team in the division, level with Newcastle. 

Despite the Hornets’ lack of goals, Flores can take solace in the fact his side are seemingly displaying an increased sense of defensive resilience following their humbling at the hands of Manchester City last month.

Since that 8-0 demolition, Watford have conceded just three goals in four games, suggesting that some of their defensive options, many of whom have depreciated in price, could be worth considering.

Another promising performance from Daryl Janmaat (£4.3m) in the right wing-back position of Flores’ 3-5-2 system should keep him on our Watchlists for now.

Adam Masina (£4.3m) was deployed on the left but may lose his place to Jose Holebas (£4.7m) when he returns from suspension.

The manager confirmed he was pleased with his side’s defensive performance: 

“We had our chances, we did not concede goals and we had a good team spirit and this is really good for the future. Defending well is a good base, but I can feel when we are on the opposition’s box the players are still a little bit nervous and they can sometimes take bad decisions. I think the first win is getting closer, the difference with the other teams is not so big and I’m really confident for the future.” – Quique Sanchez Flores

Watford’s injury woes continued right from the off against Bournemouth. Tom Cleverley (£4.9m) was forced to leave the pitch after just 10 minutes with a suspected ankle problem, Will Hughes (£5.5m) replacing him.

Fantasy interest in Cleverley is unlikely to be high but Hughes might be worthy of monitoring given his potential for attacking returns in the past.

Watford XI (3-5-2): Foster; Kabasele, Dawson, Cathcart; Masina (Foulquier 73′) Chalobah (Gray 57′) Cleverley (Hughes 10′), Doucouré, Janmaat; Pereyra, Deulofeu.

Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Rico, Aké, S Cook, Smith; Danjuma (H.Wilson 64′) Billing, Lerma, Fraser; J King, C Wilson (Solanke 74′).

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Lessons learned from Gameweek 10

• Southampton 0-9 Leicester City
• Manchester City 3-0 Aston Villa
• Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 Everton
• Watford 0-0 Bournemouth
• West Ham United 1-1 Sheffield United
• Burnley 2-4 Chelsea
• Newcastle United 1-1 Wolves
• Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
• Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
• Norwich City 1-3 Manchester United