London---Bournemouth took advantage of Watford defender Gabriele Angella's dismissal after just 26 seconds to move three points clear at the top of the Championship with a 2-0 victory on Friday.
With their promotion rivals not playing until Saturday, Eddie Howe's side had a chance to cement pole position in the race to reach the Premier League and they were given a helping hand when Italian centre-back Angella was controversially sent off for a foul on Callum Wilson with less than a minute played at Dean Court.
Angella caught Wilson as the Bournemouth striker surged clear, but he wasn't the last defender between his opponent and the goal, yet referee Lee Probert decided the offence was worthy of a red card.
It was more of Wilson's movement and trickery that flustered Watford defender Craig Cathcart into conceding the 35th minute penalty that Yann Kermorgant converted to open the scoring.
Watford's former Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes could do little about Bournemouth's second goal in the 57th minute either.
Having been picked out by Kermorgant, Matt Ritchie squeezed a low right-footed drive across goal and into the bottom corner for his eighth of the campaign.
That was enough to end sixth placed Watford's hopes of snatching a draw as Bournemouth cruised to a victory that moves them ahead of second placed Derby.
AFP
