Wilson Isidor made his full Sunderland debut at Vicarage Road after Eliezer Mayenda was ruled out with an injury.
Dan Ballard was also missing from the squad with Chris Mepham continuing at the heart of defence. Mayenda had started every league game so far this season but Isidor was given a chance to impress Regis Le Bris from the start.
Abdoullah Ba was handed his first appearance in a matchday squad since the win over Sheffield Wednesday in August, while Ian Poveda was also back in the squad after a recent thigh complaint. Alan Browne was absent after a recent knee injury, though he is expected to return to the squad in the near future.
Watford took the lead in the first half through Festy Ebosele and could have fallen further behind at various points in the opening 45 with the home side well on top for the majority. After the break, Isidor netted an equaliser for Sunderland after turning home Patrick Roberts’ superb cross to level the scores with 48 minutes played.
With the game heading towards a draw, Dan Neil gave away a penalty, which was scored by Tom Dele-Bashiru, which turned out to be the winner on the day as the Black Cats succumbed to a 2-1 defeat in the Championship away from home.
Here, we take a look at how our chief football writer Phil Smith rated each Sunderland player after the game against Watford on Saturday afternoon:
5. Dennis Cirkin
Left isolated too often in the first half and so didn’t look as assured as he has done for most of this season defensively. Got forward more in the second half but to no avail. 6 | Getty Images
6. Jobe Bellingham
Looked a touch off his usual pace in the first half and was lucky to get away with one loose pass on the brink of half time. Much better in the second. 5 | Getty Images
7. Chris Rigg
Struggled to get on the ball in a first where Sunderland were pushed right back onto the edge of their own box. Much better in the second as he picked some crosses that could have yielded more. 6 Photo: Owen Humphreys
8. Dan Neil
Made a late error when he dived in to challenge Baah but fouled. A clear penalty. Doesn’t look comfortable in holding midfield when Sunderland are sitting deep - much better either side of half time when his side were high up the pitch. 4 Photo: Owen Humphreys