IT MIGHT not be an epidemic yet, but Cherries’ recent habit of conceding late goals seems to have turned into more than just a minor affliction.

One against Rotherham, two against Leeds and one against Watford on Saturday, all of which flew into the net in the final nine minutes and all of which proved costly in one way or another.

A compelling and forceful argument can be made that Cherries’ defensive displays have deserved better, that they have been punished for making a single error, often minor.

But shipping a goal or more in the closing stages of three matches in a row is still bound to be a cause for concern to all around Dean Court, even despite positive recent displays.

The unwelcome pattern resurfaced again at Vicarage Road on Saturday, when, after Harry Arter had opened the scoring with a dazzling long-range effort, substitute Craig Cathcart delivered the perfect riposte with an exquisite 14-yard volley.

There were elements of the defending which could have been better, but fundamentally, Cherries watched a centre-half unleash the sort of hit that a seasoned 25-a-season striker would have been proud of.

Cathcart won’t score a goal that good again for a while, not that that would have been any consolation to Cherries, particularly given that the Northern Ireland international would probably not have got on the pitch had Gabriel Tamas avoided injury in the first half.

But what happened, happened.

Sometimes, you have to grit your teeth and have faith that your travails will produce a better result next time. And that is exactly what Eddie Howe’s men will do.

The boss made three changes to the side as he looked to secure a first Championship win since August 16.

Southampton loan keeper Artur Boruc was handed his first start in place of Lee Camp, while recalled duo Eunan O’Kane and Junior Stanislas took their place in a five-man midfield.

Watford were without the services of recently-appointed boss Oscar Garcia due to chest pains and skipper Troy Deeney – Hornets’ top marksman in 2013-14 – was ruled out with a hamstring problem.

The hosts’ defensive fragility was exposed in alarming fashion early on, when Callum Wilson eased past the nervy Tamas and was barged over by the Romanian as he raced towards goal.

Referee Oliver Langford immediately pointed to the spot but mystifyingly elected to keep his cards in his pocket, before Ian Harte dragged wide of Heurelho Gomes’ left upright.

The Irishman’s error - Cherries’ second penalty miss of the season - appeared to buoy Watford.

First, Daniel Tozser’s left-wing free-kick was nodded off-target by Sean Murray and then Matej Vydra ghosted on to Tozser’s delightful chip and, on the spin, directed into Boruc’s arms with his upper leg.

Tamas had been given a torrid time by Wilson and his cohorts but the defender was stretchered off with a knee injury in the 32nd minute and Cathcart came on in his place.

Nine minutes before the break, left-back Daniel Pudil hooked past the far post from the edge of the 18-yard box and then a terrific sliding tackle from Steve Cook denied Vydra a clear run on goal.

Cherries had seldom threatened since the penalty miss but in stoppage time, Wilson’s powerful header from Simon Francis’ cross brought a smart save from Gomes.

Wilson thought he had put the visitors in front with a tap-in minutes after the restart, but this time the former Coventry man was correctly denied by the flag of assistant referee Antony Coggins.

However, the warning signs were appearing with increasing regularity. Stanislas’ shot squirted wide, Harte’s vicious free-kick was beaten away by Gomes and Ritchie’s ferocious follow-up got caught up in traffic.

The Cherries breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark. Ritchie showed impeccable vision to pick out Arter in space some 25 yards out and with no challenge forthcoming, the former Woking man unleashed a rising, left-footed screamer into the top-right corner.

The lead could so easily have been doubled when Howe’s troops streamed forward on the counter- attack and Ritchie pulled back across goal for Wilson, but the frontman was seemingly caught off-balance and the ball rolled harmlessly to safety.

Referee Langford rightly waved away Ikechi Anya’s penalty appeal after he fell too easily under a challenge from Francis and Cherries kept their host at arm’s length until the 83rd minute, when a moment of wonderful quality broke their resistance.

Juan Carlos Paredes’ cross was nodded upwards by Tommy Elphick before Cook’s attempted headed clearance was lashed emphatically into the far corner by the unlikely source of Cathcart.

O’Kane nearly gifted Watford a winner when he lost possession deep in his own half, but substitute Odhion Ighalo shot straight at Boruc, before another sub, Fernando Forestieri, handled as he attempted to reach Vydra’s mis-hit shot across goal.

STAR MAN - HARRY ARTER

THERE were a few candidates for Cherries’ best performer.

Simon Francis had a very steady game at right-back and just in front of him, Matt Ritchie’s invention proved the catalyst for many of the visitors’ best moves.

But Arter edged the decision with another fine display. 

Not nearly enough can be said about the quality of the 24-year-old’s opening goal. Sure, he was given space, but to beat a former Brazil international and Tottenham regular from distance takes something special.

Arter’s strike was exactly that. Brutal, unerring and spectacular, it will still be one of Cherries’ best efforts of the season when May rolls around.

MATCH FACTS AND STATS

Cherries: Boruc 6.5; Francis 8, Elphick 7, Cook 7.5, Harte 6.5; Ritchie 8 (Smith, 88), O'Kane 7, Surman 6.5, Arter 8, Stanislas (Pugh, 73) 6.5; Wilson 7.

Unused subs: Daniels, Fraser, Pitman, Kermorgant, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Cook, Surman, Arter, Wilson, Elphick.

Hornets: Gomes; Paredes, Ekstrand, Tamas (Cathcart, 32), Pudil; Abdi (Ighalo, 72), Tozser, Murray; Anya, Vydra, Dyer (Forestieri, 57).

Unused subs: Munari, McGugan, Fabbrini, Bond (g/k).

Booked: Tozser, Forestieri.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

Attendance: 14,320 (707 away supporters).