Sunderland have moved off the bottom of the Premier League to just within a point of safety thanks to a 1-0 victory over Watford at the Stadium of Light.
Following a first half of few chances, Patrick van Aanholt scored the only goal of the game shortly after the break, collecting Jermain Defoe's cross and rifling home off the inside of the post.
Troy Deeney had a chance to equalise when he met a Nordin Amrabat cross, but his unmarked header flew wide as the visitors slipped to a fourth defeat in five games.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action on Wearside.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Sunderland and Watford!
Today's game at the Stadium of Light sees two sides in the bottom half of the table eager to claim all three points - and both will really fancy their chances.
The Black Cats are bottom of the table and four points from safety, but they've undergone a bit of a mini-revival since November, claiming three valuable wins as well as putting up a fight against Chelsea and only falling to a 1-0 defeat against the Premier League leaders.
The Hornets, meanwhile, began the season brightly but have tailed off since, falling to four defeats since the start of November, even though two were against Liverpool and Manchester City, but they will be quietly optimistic of claiming victory in Wearside.
Without further ado, here are the team news...
SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Pickford, Love, Van Aanholt, Djilobodji, Kone, Denayer, Ndong, Borini, Januzaj, Anichebe, Defoe
WATFORD STARTING XI: Gomes, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Holebas, Amrabat, Behrami, Capoue, Zuniga, Deeney, Ighalo
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Larsson, Asoro, O'Shea, Khazri, Robson, Honeyman
WATFORD SUBS: Pantilimon, Cathcart, Kabasele, Janmaat, Guedioura, Sinclair, Success
David Moyes has made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Chelsea in midweek, as Victor Anichebe returns to the starting XI after passing a late fitness test, while Donald Love and Didier Ndong also start.
The three players making way in the Sunderland starting XI are Jan Kirchoff, ruled out seemingly for the long term with a knee cartilage injury, while John O'Shea drops to the bench and Billy Jones fails to make the matchday squad.
As for Walter Mazzarri's selection, four changes have been made - Younes Kaboul, Valon Behrami, Juan Camilo Zuniga and Troy Deeney all come into the starting XI in place of Daryl Janmaat, Adlene Guedioura, Roberto Pereyra and Jerome Sinclair.
Janmaat, Guedioura and Sinclair are all on the Watford bench, while Pereyra suffered a knee injury against Manchester City, though it is unknown at present how long he will be out, and Ben Watson is not involved due to family reasons.
Younes Kaboul, who is involved from the start against the Black Cats, switched from Sunderland to Watford in the summer, signing a three-year contract after asking to leave Wearside due to personal reasons.
The 30-year-old played an integral role in helping the Black Cats avoid relegation last season, following the previous year's summer move from fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, but could receive a frosty reception at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
It's not been a good week for Sunderland, in all honesty. Aside from their league position, club CEO Martin Bain revealed that any spending during the January transfer window will be "very, very limited", while David Moyes has sensationally criticised his employers by claiming that he may have not even taken the job over the summer had he been made fully aware of the club's financial situation, adding that they cannot even afford to make loan signings.
This is in addition to Lamine Kone's future, which incredibly remains the subject of speculation despite the fact he signed a new deal just a few months ago, not to mention the injury crisis at the club. A massive shame really, what's going on at the Stadium of Light at present.
Watford are themselves experiencing a certain degree of off-the-field drama, as they are under investigation after reportedly supplying falsified financial information to the Football League, and could face a heavy fine and possibly a points deduction. In addition, club chairman Raffaele Riva resigned in November to focus on other business ventures.
Nonetheless, the Hornets seem to be doing just fine in the league, despite tailing off after a strong start to the season, and no matter the issues off the field, both sets of players will no doubt be focusing on their jobs this afternoon and doing their best on the pitch.
HEAD TO HEAD: Sunderland have only failed to score in three of their previous 36 league meetings with Watford, and have only lost one of the last eight. Watford's victory at the Stadium of Light last season was only their third in the 18 meetings at Sunderland.
Watford have lost four of their five league trips to the Stadium of Light, as well as having lost their last three successive away matches, conceding 11 goals in the process.
Jermain Defoe has scored against 35 different teams in the Premier League, but is yet to score against Watford in the competition - today's game marks his fourth appearance against the Hornets.
Sunderland could be in the Premier League's bottom two at Christmas for the third time in the last four seasons, and defeat today would mean the club will be spending Christmas Day at the foot of the table - 21 of the previous 24 sides in that position have been relegated.
PREDICTION: Time for me to have a go at predicting the score for today's game in Wearside - it should be quite an open game, with both sides believing they could win it, but I think they will cancel each other out, so I reckon a 1-1 draw.
🎄👊🏻 @t_deeney presents Jermain Defoe with a Christmas card for @SunderlandAFC fan @Bradleysfight on behalf of the #watfordfc squad. pic.twitter.com/C8cXkHuBVD
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC) 17 December 2016
David Moyes has some fighting talk ahead of the game: "We have to win our home games if we want to stay in the Premier League. We are aiming for three points against Watford. It will be a tight game, a close one and we need to make sure we win it!"
The teams are out on the pitch - kickoff is imminent!
KICKOFF: Referee Bobby Madley blows his whistle and we are underway at the Stadium of Light!
CHANCES! A bright start as Sunderland win an early corner, Januzaj plays it short before the cross comes in, but Defoe's header is comfortable for Gomes. Moments later at the other end, Ighalo forces a Watford corner and Pickford tips Amrabat's ensuing volley over the bar!
Fans at the Stadium of Light rise from their seats and applaud for Bradley Lowery, the five-year-old Sunderland supporter with terminal cancer.
Van Aanholt wastes a good opportunity as he skips past Amrabat down the left but whips an inaccurate final pass into the box which is cleared away by Prodl.
Denayer slides the ball through to Anichebe just inside the penalty area, but Kaboul marks him tightly and gets a good block in, which deflects back off Anichebe and out for a goal kick.
The high-tempo start has given way to a more subdued spell as Watford try to keep hold of the ball after Sunderland threatened in the early stages and enjoyed possession.
Capoue wins a free kick after being tripped by Ndong around 25 yards out, which he sends in, but it's headed clear.
Deeney gets in behind the Sunderland defence down the left with ease, but his cutback fails to find Ighalo as Djilobodji intercepts.
Holebas finds himself in acres of space on the left-hand side of the penalty area and whips a ball into the centre, but Love slices it across the face of goal and it goes out for a corner.
Sunderland win a corner and Anichebe climbs highest to meet the inswinging ball but can't direct it towards the target - in the process, three players find themselves down in the Watford penalty area.
CHANCE! Januzaj sees his effort blocked before claiming back the ball and teeing up Borini, but the Italian gets the ball stuck under his feet - he then plays in to Defoe who turns and strikes an effort on goal, but Prodl is there to block it.
Amrabat gets into space on the right and whips in a low cross towards Ighalo, but Djilobodji sticks out a leg to intercept the ball at the near post and gives away a corner, which is headed clear by Anichebe.
CHANCE! Ighalo wins a free kick on the edge of the box by the byline, which Holebas swings towards the back post where no fewer than three players look ready to nod home, but between them they manage to force the ball wide from four yards out!
Djilobodji hacks Ighalo down close to halfway but escapes without a booking. Moments later Love concedes another foul further up the pitch - Holebas curls the ball in and Prodl heads it on target but it's straight at Pickford.
Pickford finds Anichebe at the other end with a powerful punt upfield, and the striker gets behind the defence and lets rip from a tight angle, but Kaboul does well to get across and make the block before the shot reaches Gomes.
SUBSTITUTION: Sebastian Prodl isn't going to be able to continue following an early knock and he's replaced by Christian Kabasele.
Sunderland win a free kick in a dangerous position and, from the set piece, Van Aanholt goes on to play a one-two with Anichebe before Denayer claims and whips the ball into the box, but Watford head clear.
BOOKING: Januzaj finds his way onto Madley's naughty list after pulling back Behrami.
Watford win a free kick following Januzaj's foul but Kone is easily able to nod the looped delivery clear.
Anichebe sprays a long cross-field ball out to Love, who in turn sets up Defoe on the edge of the box, but the veteran striker can't quite manage to get the shot away.
Amrabat collects the ball on the right flank and sends a cross into the box, but it fails to get the better of the opposition defence, which clears with ease.
Defoe is cutting a frustrated figure up front as a long ball meant for him gets nowhere near him.
Play stops as Kabasele goes down holding his face following a clash with Anichebe, but the latter is not penalised for seemingly swinging his arm as the home fans make their feelings known about Kabasele.
BOOKING: Behrami goes into the book for a challenge from behind on Januzaj near the corner flag.
HALF TIME: SUNDERLAND 0-0 WATFORD
So it's level at the half-time point of this game as neither Sunderland nor Watford succeed in breaking the deadlock thus far at the Stadium of Light.
Watford have arguably edged the encounter so far in terms of general play, while they had the better chances, Pickford saving well from Amrabat early on before Britos's header was somehow turned wide by his own teammate.
Sunderland have had more efforts overall, with six to the visitors' three, and more shots on target (three to two). However, Watford have completed more passes (120 to the hosts' 110) and enjoyed more possession (54 percent to 46 percent) and more corners (five to three).
In terms of the crucial statistics, that is, goals, it's still all square - will it end with the spoils shared, or will one side claim all three points? Sports Mole will reveal all as it unfolds!
KICKOFF: We're back underway at the Stadium of Light, no changes to either side.
Watford make a bright start as Holebas links up well with Zuniga down the left, but Ndong does well to break down the attack.
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-0 WATFORD (PATRICK VAN AANHOLT)
And it's first blood to Sunderland! Januzaj slips the ball through to Defoe, who is forces to take it wide before whipping a cross into the box, it lands at the feet of Van Aanholt and, despite Kabasele's initial block, he perseveres and unleashes an unstoppable shot which goes in off the left post!
Sunderland are invigorated after taking the lead and they threaten once again as Anichebe gets in deep and tries to cross for Defoe, who overruns it, and moments late Anichebe lashes an ambitious first-time volley towards Gomes, but it sails wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Walter Mazzarri tries to swing the momentum back towards his Watford side as Camilo Zuniga makes way for Isaac Success.
Love attempts a challenge on substitute Success and goes to ground needing some treatment as he appears to have rolled his ankle.
Watford win a corner and Capoue takes, the ball flies towards the far post and Amrabat is there to meet it with a volley, but it sails over the bar.
Sunderland break and Januzaj plays in Defoe down the right - the forward is forced to go forth on his own and cuts inside Kaboul but takes a heavy touch and the ball bounces safely through to Gomes.
CHANCE! More good linking up between Januzaj and Defoe as the former picks out the latter with a pinpoint cross, the veteran striker goes on to lay the ball off for Anichebe on the edge of the box, but his curled effort goes just wide.
Success gives away a free kick, which Januzaj takes from the right - Kone gets his head to it but it comes off Kaboul and goes out for a corner, which is subsequently cleared.
Sunderland look more likely to get a second at this stage of the game, while Watford look rattled as Anichebe looks to break away on the counter but Kabasele recovers to make a great tackle.
CHANCE! A quick counter sees Watford break up the pitch and Amrabat's cross is met by Deeney, but his unmarked header from 12 yards out goes narrowly wide.
BOOKING: Kaboul picks up a yellow card after he clatters into Januzaj. Van Aanholt stands over the resulting free kick but curls it straight to Gomes.
SUBSTITUTION: Daryl Janmaat comes on as Watford's final change in place of Younes Kaboul.
SUBSTITUTION: Now Sunderland make a change as Adnan Januzaj is withdrawn for John O'Shea, who comes on to strengthen the hosts' defence.
CHANCE! Holebas forces a corner, which Capoue swings in, and Denayer heads the ball straight towards his own goal, but it lacks pace and Pickford can collect easily.
The Stadium of Light cheers as Djilobodji charges towards the corner flag to prevent the ball going out - and clatters into the linesman in the process! Luckily both are fine and laugh it off.
CHANCES! Great double save from Pickford from Watford's 10th corner of the game as the stopper keeps out both Janmaat's volley and Ighalo's effort!
SUBSTITUTION: A Sunderland change as Donald Love comes off with a knock and Sebastian Larsson comes on.
Five minutes of added time here at the Stadium of Light as Djilobodji is wrongly punished for handball - it came off Deeney's shoulder - and gifts the visitors a free kick, which Holebas blasts over.
Last chance saloon for Watford, who commit plenty of men forward, but the Sunderland defence and goalkeeper are remaining strong in these last few minutes.
SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland, who have just one more minute to hang on, make their final change as Fabio Borini comes off for Wahbi Khazri.
FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 1-0 WATFORD
And that's the final whistle! Sunderland have given themselves a huge boost in their fight against relegation with a 1-0 win against Watford, Patrick van Aanholt scoring the winner early on in the second half.
David Moyes's charges climb to 18th in the Premier League table following their win, just one point from safety, while the Hornets slip to 12th place.
That is all we have time for today but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you match reports, manager reaction and all the latest news from the day's football! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
