An early second-half goal from left-back Patrick van Aanholt gave Sunderland a second win in five league fixtures. Van Aanholt neatly finished beyond HeurelhoGomes to take the lead, and Watford boss Walter Mazzarri will be very disappointed with his side's tame performance.
Sunderland welcomed Didier N'Dong back into the starting line-up, the 22-year-old served aone match suspension.Meanwhile, Watford manager Mazzarri stuck with Nigerian Odion Ighalo and club captain Troy Deeney up front.
Didier Ndong has served his one-game ban and comes straight back into the starting line-up v @WatfordFC today pic.twitter.com/68cq40m5uv
Jordan Pickford was called into action just three minutes into the game, getting a good hand onNordin Amrabat's powerful volley to tip it over the bar andkeep the scores level.
Watford had a couple of half-chances, Ighalo had a neat flicked effort brushed wide of the post to break his goal drought. MiguelBritos had a header scuffed wide and with any clear connection, it would of give the Hornets the lead.
Watford dominated the first-half, but didn't make a clear cut chance to give them the lead against the home side, Sunderland defended well and needed to come out the second-half more attacking if they wanted to win this game.
HALF TIME: No real chances for either team, other than PvA in the closing moments of a forgettable half at the SoL pic.twitter.com/rqmKtX0Ukl
After the break both sides came out unchanged and it started how the first-half ended - a very defensively minded Sunderland looked to counter attack when the opportunities opened.
And when the opportunity came, they took it. A through ball to Jermaine Defoe looked to be over hit, but Defoe put it back into the box and on the turn Van Aanholt cleverly placed it over the Watford keeper togive Sunderland the lead.
Sunderland looked very confident, Victor Anichebe, Defoe and Adnan Januzaj had good efforts on goal, but nothing too dangerous to double their lead.
ï“· | @pvanaanholt thanks @IAmJermainDefoe for the assist as he netted his third goal of the season pic.twitter.com/3dw5cSQtjN
It was all hands on deck for Sunderland with the kitchen sink thrown at the Black Cats defence, but they just couldn't get that decisive goal, captain Deeney had a headed effort go just wide of the post and they didn't create any more big chances in the final 15 minutes of the game.
It ended 1-0 to Sunderland, Watford didn't show the fight Sunderland did to get the three points, David Moyes will be very happy with his side's performance, meanwhile Mazzarri will struggle to find positives heading into a busy festive period.
FULL-TIME Sunderland 1-0 Watford. Patrick van Aanholt's strike is enough to see Sunderland move off the foot of the table #SUNWAT pic.twitter.com/LJU1QqfXhj
Sunderland XI:Pickford, Love, Djilobodji, Kone, Van Aanholt, Denayer, N'Dong, Januzaj, Borini, Defoe, Anichebe
Subs Used:Kabasele, Success, Janmaat
Watford XI:Gomes,Britos, Kaboul, Prodl, Holebas, Behrami, Capoue, Amrabat, Zuniga,Ighalo, Deeney
Subs Used: O'Shea, Larsson, Khazri