6 Patterson: Not particularly busy but did what he had to do with minimal fuss.

8 Hume: Played on the left rather than the right but looked equally as comfortable. Didn’t miss a tackle all night.

8 Ballard: Wasn’t troubled – or made it look like that. Powerful display. Came close to a headed goal early in the second half. Mowbray described his central defenders as “amazing”.

7 O’Nien: Fortunate to not concede a penalty just before Sunderland’s opening goal but otherwise impressive, comfortable and dominant.

8 Huggins: What a moment for the defender. His stunning hit late in the first half to score the first goal of his career set Sunderland on their way to victory.

7 Bellingham: Coasted through the game. Teed up Ba’s goal.

6 Neil: Won his battles but unusually sloppy in possession.

8 Ba: Recalled to the team in the absence of Pritchard and took his chance. Lively in the first half and in the right place at the right time to secure the points in the second half. Brave header.

6 Roberts: Moved inside into the No.10 role in the absence of Pritchard. Some flashes of class but didn’t see as much of the ball as he’d have liked.

7 Clarke: Not at his best but still a threat throughout. Early dart down the left had Watford worried. Was fouled repeatedly.

6 Burstow: Worked hard but didn’t get his rewards in the box.

Substitutes:

7 Aouchiche (for Roberts, 70): Bright from the bench, came close to goal when low shot was cleared off the line.

Rusyn (for Clarke, 90): N/A

Hemir (for Burstow, 90): N/A

Rigg (for Bellingham, 90+5): N/A

Subs not used: Bishop, Taylor, Bennette, Seelt, Triantis

WATFORD: Bachmann; Ngakia 5 (Andrews, 46), Porteous, Hoedt, Lewis; Sierralta; Louza (Rajovic, 75), Dele-Bashiru 5 (Healey, 65); Ince 6 (Asprilla, 46), Bayo, Chakvetadze 5 (Kone, 65).

Subs: Hamer, Livermore, Pollock, Kayembe

Man of the Match: Huggins. Obviously the goal gets the headlines but this was a brilliant all-round performance from the defender, who has put last season’s injury misery behind him.