But following the tragic death of winger Jimmy Davis in a car crash on Saturday morning, Watford, according to their manager Ray Lewington, were in no mood for football.
"If the players felt anything like I did, then there minds weren't really on the game and I think that showed for the first hour.
"We had to play this game but we did not want to. It is still too close and we have other things on our minds," he said.
Bournemouth played the football in the first half but Watford had the better chances. Danny Webber headed over from a Neal Ardley cross and Heidar Helguson nodded wide again from the centre by Ardley.
Webber had a shot deflected off target with the keeper wrong-footed and it was not until the end of the half that the Cherries, who had enjoyed quite a hefty percentage of possession, created a chance but Danny Thomas fired wide of the near post.
Again, Watford continued to ask questions after the interval and keeper Neil Moss had to tip over the bar from an Ardley free-kick.
But it was not until Lee Cook was introduced on the left that Watford began to mount sustained pressure. The Cherries survived this although Moss had to have two attempts to claim a shot from Micah Hyde and then Helguson sent a header over the bar from Cook.
In extra time, Bournemouth could have wrapped up a victory but Steve Fletcher headed straight at Alec Chamberlain from a Wade Elliott cross.
Gareth O'Connor tested Chamberlain with a curling free-kick but Watford gradually came into the game again and after 107 minutes grabbed the winner.
A cross from Cook was contested by Webber in the centre of the penalty area but he appeared to be bundled over. As Watford began to appeal for a penalty, the ball went wide to Fitzgerald who deftly planted it in the net.
Watford: Chamberlain, Doyley, Cox, Gayle, Mahon, Hyde, Ardley, Johnson, Helguson, Webber, Dyer.
Subs: Dyche, Lee, Hand, Fitzgerald, Cook.
Bournemouth: Moss, Purches, Broadhurst, Carl Fletcher, Browning, Elliott, O'Connor, Cummings, Thomas, Steve Fletcher, Hayter.
Subs: Stock, Feeney, Stewart, Holmes, Tindall.
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).
Attendance: 9,561