Sunderland 2 Watford 0: Highlights after Niall Huggins and Abdoullah Ba goals plus Ryan Andrews red card
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Sunderland recorded their fifth win in six games after a 2-0 victory over Watford at the Stadium of Light – but who stood out for Tony Mowbray’s side?
The Black Cats took a first-half lead when Niall Huggins made an excellent run into the opposition’s penalty area before beating goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann with a powerful finish.
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Hide AdAfter withstanding some early pressure at the start of the second half, Sunderland scored a second in the 62nd minute when Abdoullah Ba headed home from close range.
Watford were then reduced to 10 men three minutes from time when substitute Ryan Andrews was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Jack Clarke.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Sunderland 2 (Huggins, 43) (Ba, 62) Watford 0
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Huggins, Neil, Bellingham, Clarke, Ba, Roberts, Burstow
- Subs: Bishop, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg, Aouchiche, Taylor, Bennette, Hemir, Rusyn
- Watford XI: Bachmann, Ngakia, Sierralta, Hoedt, Porteous, Lewis, Louza, Chakvetadze, Dele-Bashiru, Ince, Bayo
- Subs: Hamer, Andrews, Livermore, Kone, Pollock, Kayembe, Asprilla, Rajovic, Healey
74’ Aouchiche denied again
Aouchiche has been bright since coming on and almost went through on goal again there. The playmaker was stopped by a last-ditch challenge from Hoedt inside the Watford box.
The visitors then cleared the ball before Louza conceded a free-kick for a foul on O’Nien, before the Watford man pushed his opponent to the ground.
Louza was booked for his actions, along with Watford keeper Bachmann who had come off his line to complain.
71’ Off the line!
That was almost an immediate goal for Aouchiche after a loose pass from Hoedt sent the Frenchman through on goal.
Bachmann got a hand to the effort to slow it down, allowing Porteous to stop the ball on the line.
62’ GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL BA!!!!
Sunderland had just started to get back on top after Ba’s low cross from the right was deflected behind for a corner.
The hosts played it short before it fell to Roberts on the right. The winger’s cross was headed back across goal from Bellingham before Ba headed home from close range.
2-0!
59’ Ballard heads over
Now Dele-Bashiru has been booked for a foul on Roberts midway inside the Watford half.
Roberts’ in-swinging free-kick was inviting and headed over by Ballard.
57’ Neil gets away with one
Neil was fortunate there after a loose pass went to Dele-Bashiru and led to a dangerous Watford attack.
Sunderland managed to get back in numbers before Roberts blocked Louza’s effort.
50’ Burstow booked
Watford still have the quality to turn this game and almost created a decent opening there.
After some good work on the left from the visitors, Louza’s shot from the edge of the box was held by Patterson after the keeper dived to his right.
Moments later Burstow was booked for pulling back Porteous.
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