Sunderland 2-0 Watford: Black Cats heap extra distress on struggling Hornets

Sunderland continued their wonderful kind within the Championship as they inflicted a 3rd straight defeat on Watford, a day after boss Valerien Ismael signed a contract extension.

Danny Ballard headed over after an hour for Sunderland, however two minutes later Abdoullah Ba nodded in from shut vary.

It ought to have been 3-0 when Adil Aouchiche broke by way of on aim, however his effort was half-saved by Daniel Bachmann earlier than Ryan Porteous cleared the weakened effort off the road.

Watford’s evening bought worse when teenage substitute Ryan Andrews was despatched off for a late problem on Jack Clarke as the sport got here to an in depth.

The win consolidates fourth place for Sunderland, who’ve gained 5 of their previous six matches, whereas Watford stay a degree above the relegation zone after Queens Park Rangers misplaced at Leeds United.

Both sides had half probabilities, however neither had been in a position to check the goalkeeper till Huggins’ thunderbolt put the Black Cats forward on the Stadium of Light.

Watford gave the full-back an excessive amount of house as he lower in from 40 yards earlier than beating quite a few gamers, transferring into the field and smashing into the web.

The Hornets almost replied inside two minutes, however Giorgi Chakvetadze took too lengthy after being discovered unmarked on the far submit and his shot from comparatively shut vary was deflected into the arms of Anthony Patterson.

Watford began the second half lots higher as Imran Louza and Vakoun Bayo had probabilities saved, whereas on the different finish Ballard headed a floated free-kick over the bar when he ought to have hit the goal.

But Ba was in a position to win it after Jobe Bellingham headed Mason Burstow’s cross again throughout aim for his team-mate to place away.

Aouchiche had two good probabilities to increase the benefit in fast succession when after being denied by Porteous’ clearance, Wesley Hoedt’s last-ditch deal with stopped the Frenchman.

Ismael – who has seen his facet win simply twice all season – noticed his woes proceed as 19-year-old Andrews was despatched off for sliding in recklessly on Clarke.

Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray informed BBC Radio Newcastle:

“I’m actually delighted for Niall, he is had a tricky time in my yr or so right here with harm.

“You see in coaching how he can journey with the ball and he is like elastic man almost in the best way he can weave out and in of individuals and he did simply that for the aim.

“We did huff and puff once more for 40 minutes or so in opposition to a extremely sturdy, highly effective staff.

“But sitting right here we have got the job executed, I used to be actually happy with the self-discipline, I believed the centre-backs had been wonderful tonight.

“It’s nice that the objectives are coming from everywhere in the pitch and we simply need to maintain going. It was a very good efficiency as a result of they’re a menace to any staff.”

Watford boss Valerien Ismael:

“When you lose video games you aren’t comfortable. I wanted to have readability with the gamers within the altering room. I needed some solutions, like why we got here from a robust efficiency the place we dominated a sport and to this.

“The manner we conceded the primary aim confirmed we aren’t in a position to do the fundamentals in the meanwhile. That is irritating.

“Sunderland are a staff with a number of confidence, they’ve began sturdy, we needed to face that, however we weren’t adequate.

“I want solutions from them and for them to know they have to deal with the sport in two days. We wanted a number of time within the dressing room.”