MANAGER Gianfranco Zola watched rampant Watford hit Cherries for six and then admitted the scoreline had flattered the hosts.

Zola, who guided the Hornets to the Championship play-off final last season, saw Watford dismantle Cherries with a ruthless display of second-half finishing.

However, the Italian acknowledged Cherries’ first-half showing had “surprised” them and said he felt the margin of victory had been unjust on the visitors.

Zola said: “It was a good performance against a team which probably didn’t deserve to lose 6-1, especially in the first half when they played well and played the right way.

“My team played very well in the second half.”

Asked what had been wrong with his team in the first half, Zola replied: “Me and my players were surprised how good they were on the ball. They didn’t just kick it away, they made it difficult for us.

“After we had scored the opening goal, we dropped back and allowed them to play too much.

“They troubled us because they kept moving the ball in midfield. They got control of the midfield and caused problems.

“We changed gear in the second half because, in the first, we had played under rhythm.”

Asked by the Daily Echo how he felt Cherries would fare this season, Zola said: “I think they will do well because they play the right way and know what they are doing. When you do that, you can only get better.

“It was a tough game but, if they keep doing what they did in the first half, they will have a lot of joy.”