Sunderland 0-1 Watford: Odion Ighalo goal helps visitors to third win in a row

Odion Ighalo’s early strike helped Watford win their third successive Premier League game as they defeated Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland started poorly and were stunned by Ighalo's strike in the fourth minute and, though they improved in the second half, they could not convert their chances and remain second from bottom in the league table.

The game's only goal came as full-back Allan Nyom drove to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Ighalo, who outmuscled Coates at the near post and poked home from close range to score for the third consecutive league game.

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Sunderland began the game in a 3-4-3 formation and struggled to cope with Watford's threat from wide areas.

Both Watford full-backs caused problems and Nathan Ake almost created a second goal in the ninth minute as he picked out Almen Abdi at the back post but Patrick van Aanholt made a diving tackle to deny him.

Soon after, Ighalo turned John O'Shea inside out in the box and looked certain to score but Sebastien Coates got back to scramble his shot off the line. The ball fell to Abdi who saw his shot blocked before Jose Manuel Jurado followed up with a shot which cannoned off the post and away from danger.

Sunderland should have equalised in the 18th minute when Yann M'Vila slid a great ball through for Fabio Borini but the Italian screwed his shot inches wide of the far post from close range.

Sam Allardyce was unhappy with how his team were performing and made a tactical switch midway through the first half as he took off DeAndre Yedlin and sent on Jack Rodwell, as Sunderland switched to a more orthodox four at the back.

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That change appeared to settle the Black Cats and they began to enjoy more possession after that with Borini having another chance to equalise in the 36th minute when Gomes palmed a corner into his path but he sliced his shot wide.

Watford were content to sit back and counterattack after the break with the pace of Ighalo in particular proving a constant threat for the home side.

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Allardyce introduced Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe midway through the second half and both breathed life into the Sunderland attack as they pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing minutes.

Defoe had the ball in the net in the 75th minute after Johnson slid him in but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside by the former England striker.

Ighalo had a good chance to grab a second soon after when Coates misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing him to nip in behind him but Heurelho Gomes stood tall and made a good save.

Costel Pantilimon was soon called into action at the other end as Defoe manufactured a yard of space in the box and fired a low shot which the Sunderland goalkeeper did well to turn around the post.

Coates produced a sensational diving tackle on Ighalo when he looked certain to score moments later as Watford broke up the field.

Sunderland's best chance of the match came when van Aanholt picked out Defoe with a brilliant volleyed cross in the 84th minute but the Sunderland striker stabbed the ball inches wide.

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Johnson missed another opportunity in the dying moments as he shot wide when unmarked at the back post after Duncan Watmore flicked the ball onto him.

The win lifts Watford to seventh in the table while Sunderland remain 19th and face difficult trips to Chelsea and Manchester City in their next two games before hosting Liverpool on December 30.

PLAYER RATINGS

Sunderland: Pantilimon (7), Yedlin (4), Jones (6), O'Shea (5), Coates (6), van Aanholt (6), M'Vila (7), Toivonen (6), Borini (5), Fletcher (7), Watmore (7)

Subs: Rodwell (6), Johnson (6), Defoe (7)

Watford: Gomes (8); Nyom (8), Cathcart (6), Britos (7), Ake (7); Capoue (7), Watson (6); Abdi (6), Deeney (6), Jurado (6); Ighalo (8).

Subs: Guedioura (6), Anya (6)

Man of the Match: Odion Ighalo