GOALS from Watford’s Richarlison and Etienne Capoue meant Cherries suffered a 2-0 defeat in their opening home game of the Premier League season.

Brazilian Richarlison, signed by the Hornets in the summer from Fluminense, nudged home a 73rd minute opener at Vitality Stadium.

Capoue then came off the bench and struck four minutes from time, meaning Eddie Howe’s men have suffered back-to-back league losses to begin their campaign.

Cherries made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion last time out.

Adam Smith came in for the injured Simon Francis at right-back and winger Jordon Ibe, who impressed as a second-half substitute at the Hawthorns, replaced Marc Pugh.

Jermain Defoe was also on the bench for the home side.

Striker Andre Gray made his first start for the visitors as one of four changes for Marco Silva’s men. Watford drew 3-3 on the opening day of the campaign against Liverpool.

After former Watford man Nathan Ake had made a vital block following a long throw to deny Tom Cleverley in the opening exchanges, Cherries forced the first save of the contest on seven minutes.

Joshua King burst down the left and found winger Ryan Fraser, his effort was charged down by Heurelho Gomes in the away goal from a tight angle and Benik Afobe’s effort deflected over the bar on the follow up.

A sweeping ball played by Andrew Surman then found Charlie Daniels on the left for Cherries, but his delivery was punched away by skipper Gomes.

At the other end, Nathaniel Chalobah had a glorious opportunity to give the Hornets a one-goal lead.

He rose highest at the far post to head a precise cross played in by Nordin Amrabat from the right flank, but failed to hit the target. Miguel Britos then received a caution for a hefty challenge on Harry Arter.

With the contest still goalless, Afobe forced a smart save from Gomes at his near post on the half hour mark.

He raced on to a lofted through ball from Steve Cook, got goal side of Britos and worked the Brazilian keeper from close range.

In stoppage time during the opening period, Gray had a golden chance to open his account for his new club.

After some trickery from Richarlison down the left, he cut the ball back to the former Burnley man, who could only blaze over the bar from close range.

Following the break, Cherries almost broke the deadlock. A corner delivered by Ibe was met by Steve Cook and, after deflecting off a defender, was gathered by Gomes diving to his left.

With both sides still searching for an opener, Chalobah bizarrely left the ball when a shooting chance arose on 53 minutes. He was teed up by Amrabat but decided not to pull the trigger and the opportunity went begging.

Chalobah had another chance just five minutes later however. He dispossessed Cook and raced in on goal but Cherries' keeper Asmir Begovic raced out to make the save.

Defoe and Pugh were then introduced by Howe on the hour mark, replacing Afobe and Ibe. That came before Gray forced another stop from Begovic at his near post.

The visitors continued to pressure however and they got the opening goal on 73 minutes through Richarlison.

After Chalobah played in Gray down the right, he cut back for the Brazilian, who slid in with Smith and got the all-important touch to nudge the ball home.

As Cherries looked for a leveller, Pugh’s cross was then flicked on by Defoe into the path of King, who headed over the bar.

But the game was secured for the visitors on 86 minutes when Capoue, seven minutes after coming on, brought the ball down and rifled into the corner to make it 2-0.

Cherries: Begovic; A Smith, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Ibe (Pugh, 60), Surman, Arter, Fraser (Mousset, 77); King; Afobe (Defoe, 60). Unused Subs: Boruc, Gosling, B Smith, Mings.

Hornets: Gomes; Femenía, Prödl, Britos, Holebas; Doucouré, Chalobah (Watson, 90); Amrabat (Kabasele, 82), Cleverley, Richarlison (Capoue, 79); Gray. Unused Subs: Pantilimon, Hughes, Okaka, Deeney.

Bookings: Cherries – Cook

Hornets – Britos, Gray, Chalobah

Referee: Roger East