Watford 2 Sunderland 2

Not that it mattered. It was party time at Vicarage Road for the 2000-plus visiting supporters on a sunny Sunday afternoon when the Black Cats already knew they will be back here in the Premier League again next season.

Had top-flight survival not been already secured in midweek then the same fans that had made the trip to Watford might not have been able to bear it; particularly as Newcastle did beat Tottenham comfortably at St James’ Park.

Allardyce did ring the changes, only Lamine Kone and DeAndre Yedlin started against the Hornets from the side which beat Everton on Wednesday night. There were also Premier League steady debuts for prospects Rees Greenwood, Tommy Robson and substitute George Honeyman.

Sunderland could have still won. They relinquished the lead twice, and had a couple of contentious goals ruled out for offside – by Duncan Watmore and Dame N’Doye – and had to settle for a point on the final afternoon when Allardyce already had an eye on the future.

Jack Rodwell put Sunderland ahead six minutes before half-time when he tapped in Jeremain Lens’ pass across the face of the goal, but Watford responded through the head of Sebastian Prodl three minutes after the break.

Lens grabbed his first Premier League goal since early October minutes later but Sunderland conceded again when John O’Shea conceded a silly penalty, which Troy Deeney coolly converted.

But everyone connected with Sunderland will not be too concerned at the end of this, after all they know a single defeat from their final 11 matches has kept them in the top tier of English football at the expense of Newcastle (who were regularly mentioned in chants throughout the 90 minutes).

Having spent 237 days of the season placed in the relegation zone this season, a final day trip to Watford with nothing riding on it provided fans with an opportunity to enjoy themselves – and they did.

Rivals Newcastle, already consigned to at least a season in the Championship, featured heavily among Sunderland fans, with supporters holding a banner with the words ‘Rafa Beneath us’ printed across in giant red font.

It was a chance for Allardyce to experiment too, so he introduced academy products Greenwood and Robson into the mix for first team starts. The two local lads, from Winlaton and Stanley respectively, are hopes for the future and Allardyce is keen for the club to develop more first team performers.

The pair, who had spent the season helping Sunderland’s Under-21s to second place in their league, both linked up down the left with full-back Robson playing behind his team-mate, while Jordan Pickford was back between the posts.

The amount of changes made by Allardyce was always likely to alter the flow of a team which had suffered just one defeat in ten and during that spell he had named the same starting line-up for seven matches in a row.

It was understandable that Watford, looking to deliver departing head coach Quique Sanchez Flores a victory to sign off, would start off brighter and they did create the early chances.

Almen Abdi had two of those. Firstly he curled a powerful header inches wide of Pickford’s left upright and then he hit the palms of the keeper from 20 yards. Seventeen-goal Odion Ighalo, who has not reproduced his early season form in the second half of the campaign, also had an effort hit the side netting.

After that Sunderland found greater composure, without finding – or needing - top gear. The nearest they had initially come to scoring was when Miguel Britos turned over Duncan Watmore’s volleyed cross at the back post, having been picked out by Lens.

But moments after Lens had forced a strong save out of Heurelho Gomes, Sunderland edged in front. The Dutchman was at the centre of things when Seb Larsson, set to become a free agent unless he is handed a new deal this week, picked him out inside the area.

Lens could have shot again but he opted to roll a pass across the face of the goal and Rodwell arrived on cue to convert unmarked to put Sunderland ahead with six minutes remaining of the first half.

There should have been a second moments later, but Watmore was deemed to have started his perfectly legitimate run from an offside position before rolling a finish underneath Gomes. Nevertheless, the half-time lead increased the intentions of Sunderland fans to party.

Watford’s equaliser a few minutes immediately after the break dampened spirits in the away corner slightly, when Prodl was allowed to power a strong header beyond Pickford after meeting Adlene Guedioura’s corner.

But that didn’t last long as Sunderland regained the lead less than three minutes later. A Watford attack broke down and Greenwood’s pass sent Watmore free down the left.

He had the space to run into with Lens offering support and then when he rolled a pass to his team-mate the former Dynamo Kiev forward rounded his man before drilling a finish beyond Gomes.

But Watford were not finished either, even if they needed a little help from O’Shea to get them on level terms. O’Shea was at fault when he had his studs showing to clear the ball in the area from Jose Manuel Jurado. Despite the protests, referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot and Deeney’s powerful side-footed finish found the opposite corner to where Pickford dived. After that Sunderland, who had Honeyman and Yann M’Vila involved at this stage, had work to do to leave with a point.

There were strong claims for a free-kick – and a red card – when Lamine Kone slipped as the last man before his stretched leg appeared to touch the ball and bring down his man, but Friend waved play on after looking to his assistant for support.

Watmore was denied by Gomes at one end while Ighalo went close with a deflected effort at the other, as Allardyce urged his players to push on in search of a winner in the closing stages.

Watford almost nicked a winner deep into stoppage-time too when Mario Suarez was inches away from being on the end of a deep cross. How tense might it have been had that mattered to Sunderland.