Match ends, Watford 1, Sunderland 0.
WatfordWatford1SunderlandSunderland0
Ryan Andrews' goal gave Watford victory over Sunderland in the Hornets' first match since Tom Cleverley was installed as manager on a permanent basis.
A dull end-of-season affair between two mid-table sides was settled by a moment of quality midway through the second half.
Ismaël Koné played a perfect pass in behind the Sunderland defence and youngster Andrews coolly slotted past keeper Anthony Patterson.
The breakthrough came after Jack Clarke missed a great chance for Sunderland when he fired wide.
Watford's win was their second in their eight matches under Cleverley, who was placed in interim charge after Valerien Ismael was sacked in March. Five of those games were drawn.
Three of the Hornets' previous four matches ended in goalless draws and another clean sheet demonstrated that they are tough to beat under Cleverley.
Sunderland had plenty of possession after Andrews' goal but were unable to find an equaliser.
Abdoullah Ba had an effort saved by keeper Daniel Bachmann after being set up by Patrick Roberts.
And in the final stages, Bachmann denied Callum Styles following good work on the right by Luís Semedo.
The result saw Watford move up a place in the Championship table, to 14th, leapfrogging Sunderland.
Watford manager Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I would have taken that before the game - a bang average performance but a 1-0 win. It's possibly our poorest performance since I've been in charge, and football has a funny way of working out.
"Our defence was very good but we were sloppy in possession. Sunderland created a lot of problems in the second half and we showed a bit of grit to see it out.
"Unfortunately it wasn't a stellar performance, but the result was huge for us. I wasn't pleased with the performance. There's a lot of scope for improvement."
Sunderland interim head coach Mike Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"I'm really upset. I'm not upset in terms of the performance - I felt we looked a lot more threatening in the top area of the pitch - but we've got to take our chances.
"I thought we were the better team. I'm upset for the fans. That's a game we should not be losing.
"I'm disappointed with the goal. They breached our back line far too easily and this group must realise that one lapse in concentration can get punished.
"It feels like I'm running an uphill battle at the moment in terms of the inconsistency. Some weeks I look at the group and really like what I see and some weeks I don't.
"Today I can't criticise them for that. To come away losing 1-0 is upsetting for everyone at the club."
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Bachmann
- 5Porteous
- 4Hoedt
- 15Pollock
- 59GrievesSubstituted forAndrewsat 45'minutes
- 11Koné
- 39KayembeBooked at 10mins
- 12SemaSubstituted forLewisat 69'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 18AsprillaSubstituted forLivermoreat 90+1'minutes
- 25DennisSubstituted forMartinsat 45'minutes
- 19BayoSubstituted forRajovicat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sierralta
- 6Lewis
- 7Ince
- 8Livermore
- 9Rajovic
- 26Hamer
- 37Martins
- 42Morris
- 45Andrews
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Patterson
- 13O'NienBooked at 58mins
- 5Ballard
- 42AleseSubstituted forSilva Semedoat 78'minutes
- 32Hume
- 39EkwahSubstituted forEvansat 78'minutes
- 7Bellingham
- 28Styles
- 31RiggSubstituted forRobertsat 65'minutes
- 20Clarke
- 22AouchicheSubstituted forBaat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Evans
- 6Pembélé
- 9Silva Semedo
- 10Roberts
- 14Mundle
- 17Ba
- 30Bishop
- 33Hjelde
- 40Watson
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 20,712
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamSunderland
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 1, Sunderland 0.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Callum Styles (Sunderland).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Jake Livermore replaces Yáser Asprilla.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Daniel Bachmann (Watford).
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum Styles (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mattie Pollock (Watford) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Corry Evans.
Post update
Foul by Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland).
Post update
Ryan Porteous (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Jamal Lewis (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jamal Lewis (Watford).
Post update
Hand ball by Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Mileta Rajovic replaces Vakoun Bayo.
Post update
Ryan Andrews (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Clarke (Sunderland).
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Corry Evans replaces Pierre Ekwah.
Comments
Join the conversation
it was quite touching and a credit to your club.
Was probably our worse performance under Cleverley but hey ho.
Nice goal to win it by Andrews.
A great guy with a fantastic management future ahead of him.
Come on you hornets.
As for this dross lest said the better there is no hope next year or the year after with this regime
Sign a decent striker and a proper manager.
In the remaining games, give youth a chance.
There is nothing to lose.
The business model is not working at present, but maybe it will.? I’m not sure.
If we do nothing now and carry on as we are, I fear next season will be a relegation fire fight.
Just my opinion about a club I love and care for.
Come the end of the season, sunderland will be at the very least 7 points behind the mighty boro.
I'm just curious what will sunderands excuses be. Through out the season sunderland soccer fans have blamed the referee, the weather, injuries and even one said the ball color. Anything but their own below quality players.