Bournemouth and Watford’s six-goal first half stunned fans on social media

Well that escalated quickly.

One of the most chaotic first halves in Premier League history unfolded at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth and Watford went in at the break drawing 3-3.

Watford looked to have the game under control at 2-0 thanks to Troy Deeney’s double, before Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson levelled things up.

The Hornets’ Ken Sema netted one minute later to re-establish his side’s lead, before Ryan Fraser delighted the home crowd by drawing the Cherries level once again.

It’s fair to say nobody saw that coming.

Meanwhile the fans enjoyed the new year chaos, revelling in the sight of a goal glut.

Meanwhile the BBC’s vidiprinter was dominated by proceedings on the south coast, such was the frequency of the goals.

It won’t be last on Match Of The Day, that’s for sure…

Fantasy football managers with defenders from either side won’t have been pleased, however.

But while this was indeed a rare occasion, it might surprise some fans to know that it’s only been around three years since the last six-goal first half in the Premier League.

What a division.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa’s push to secure Champions League qualification was boosted with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.

Trailing to Dominic Solanke’s 31st-minute penalty, Villa turned things around with Morgan Rogers equalizing in first-half stoppage time, Moussa Diaby putting the hosts ahead just before the hour mark and Leon Bailey adding a third in the 78th minute.

Ollie Watkins set up the finishes from Diaby and Bailey as he became the Premier League’s outright leading assist-maker this season with 12, to go with his 19 goals that sees him lie only one behind joint leaders Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the race for the Golden Boot.

The result strengthens Villa’s grip on fourth place, the final Champions League qualification spot. Villa is six points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham, which has two games in hand.

It also capped an excellent few days for Villa after last weekend's 2-0 win at Arsenal and Thursday’s penalty shootout triumph at Lille that took the team into the Europa Conference League semifinals.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby, right, celebrates with Ollie Watkins after scoring their second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Aston Villa at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 21, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby, right, celebrates scoring their second goal of the game with teammate Ollie Watkins during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Aston Villa at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 21, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after team-mate Moussa Diaby scores their second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Aston Villa at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 21, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)