WATFORD (4-1-4-1):

Gomes 7; Cathcart 6, Kaboul 6 (Janmaat 42, 6), Britos 7, Holebas 7; Doucoure 7; Niang 7 (Zuniga 86), Cleverley 7, CAPOUE 8, Amrabat 5 (Success 53, 6); Okaka 6.

Subs (not used): Pantilimon (gk), Prodl, Mariappa, Deeney.


SUNDERLAND (4-3-3):

8 PICKFORD: Where on earth would Sunderland be without him? Made a string of fine saves, with the pick seeing him deny Doucoure in the first half

5 Jones: Always gives his all, but his limitations are well-established now and he conceded possession on a number of occasions

6 Kone: The pick of Sunderland’s backline as he battled away gamely against the physical Okaka – won a number of aerial challenges

5 O’Shea: Marshalled Sunderland’s backline reasonably effectively, but struggled when Watford played on the counter-attack in the second half

6 Oviedo: Did okay against the dangerous Niang, but failed to find his target with a number of crosses from reasonably positions

5 Rodwell: Doesn’t offer enough of an attacking threat from central midfield – too many of his attempted breaks went nowhere

4 Denayer: Moved back into midfield from his previous position in the back four, but continues to look like a defender playing in the wrong role

5 Gibson: Covered plenty of ground in the central area, but to limited effect – needs to try to get onto the front foot more

4 Januzaj: Another hugely frustrating display from the loanee, who was booed off the pitch when he was replaced – continues to lack conviction

5 Defoe: Had fewer touches than anyone else on the field, which sums up his afternoon. Remains Sunderland’s only chance of survival though

5 Borini: Continues to offer next to nothing in the way of end product, although at least tested Gomes with a reasonably strike late on


Subs:

7 Ndong (for Gibson, 61): Provided a significant spark when he came onto the field, and surely has to start against Leicester tomorrow

6 Khazri (for Januzaj, 70): Wasted a couple of decent set-piece positions, but provided much more energy and drive than the player he replaced

(not used): Mannone (gk), Manquillo, Djilobodji, Cattermole, Larsson.


Man Of The Match: ETIENNE CAPOUE – The former Tottenham player is firmly established as Watford’s key player, and his driving runs from midfield were a key factor in his side’s attacking play all game.