Sunderland will spend Christmas off the bottom of the Premier League thanks to their 1-0 win over Watford at the Stadium of Light.
Both sides began Saturday's game brightly as Jermain Defoe struck an early header towards goal and Jordan Pickford forced a save from a Nordin Amrabat volley.
The Black Cats rode their luck during the first half as they came under attack from the Hornets, who were nevertheless wasteful at times.
Just before the half-hour mark, a Jose Holebas free kick was perfectly placed for no fewer than three teammates to head home, but somehow Miguel Britos's header brushed off Younes Kaboul and bounced wide.
Watford would come to rue their misses as, shortly after the restart, Patrick van Aanholt was on hand to latch on to Defoe's cross in the box and, following some perseverance, rifled against the post and past Heurelho Gomes.
Troy Deeney had a chance to equalise when he met an Amrabat cross, but his unmarked header flew wide as the visitors slipped to a fourth defeat in five games.
The result sees David Moyes's charges climb to 18th in the Premier League table, just one point outside the bottom three, while Watford slip to 12th place.
Giuseppe Labellarte
