An early Odion Ighalo goal has given Watford a 1-0 half-time lead at Sunderland this afternoon.
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The visitors made a positive start to the match, and took an early lead after just four minutes when Allan Nyom picked out Ighalo from the right, before the Nigerian striker nudged the ball beyond Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Watford continued to dominate the first half, as Pantilimon denied Almen Abdi, while the Romanian shot-stopper was called into action again minutes later to keep out an Ighalo effort in the bottom corner of the net.
Sunderland improved as the half went on, and could have found an equaliser when Yann M'Vila played in Fabio Borini, only for the Italian striker to fire wide from a tight angle.
The Hornets came close to doubling their lead before the half-hour mark as Troy Deeney teed up Etienne Capoue, only for the French midfielder's curling effort to be kept out by Pantilimon.
The hosts almost found an equaliser on the stroke of half time, when Borini fired wide from a corner, before Heurelho Gomes tipped away a header from Miguel Britos towards his own goal.
Stephen Topping
