Sunderland vs Watford LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction
Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Watford in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return - but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle - while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Sunderland AFC 2 - 0 Watford FC
Sunderland vs Watford
21:45
Match ends, Sunderland 2, Watford 0.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:42
Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Watford 0.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:42
Substitution, Sunderland. Chris Rigg replaces Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:37
Attempt missed. Rhys Healey (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:37
Substitution, Sunderland. Luís Semedo replaces Mason Burstow.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:37
Substitution, Sunderland. Nazarii Rusyn replaces Jack Clarke.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:35
Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
21:34
Ryan Andrews (Watford) is shown the red card.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:32
Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:31
Niall Huggins (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:31
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ismaël Koné.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:31
Attempt blocked. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:28
Ryan Porteous (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:28
Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:27
Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:26
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:25
Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:24
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:23
Substitution, Watford. Mileta Rajovic replaces Imrân Louza.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:21
Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
21:21
Imrân Louza (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:21
Daniel Bachmann (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:21
Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
21:21
Attempt blocked. Jack Clarke (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:17
Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:19
Attempt blocked. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:17
Substitution, Sunderland. Adil Aouchiche replaces Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:11
Substitution, Watford. Rhys Healey replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:11
Substitution, Watford. Ismaël Koné replaces Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:09
Attempt missed. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:07
Goal! Sunderland 2, Watford 0. Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland) header from very close range following a corner.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:06
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jamal Lewis.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:05
Attempt missed. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Patrick Roberts following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:05
Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:05
Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:03
Mason Burstow (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:03
Attempt blocked. Ryan Andrews (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:03
Attempt blocked. Ryan Porteous (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamal Lewis with a cross.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:03
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Sunderland vs Watford
21:00
Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:59
Foul by Yáser Asprilla (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:58
Attempt missed. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:58
Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:57
Mason Burstow (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:57
Foul by Mason Burstow (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:55
Attempt saved. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:51
Second Half begins Sunderland 1, Watford 0.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:51
Substitution, Watford. Ryan Andrews replaces Jeremy Ngakia.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:51
Substitution, Watford. Yáser Asprilla replaces Tom Ince.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:35
First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Watford 0.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:35
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:34
Delay in match because of an injury Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:34
Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:34
Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:30
Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 0. Niall Huggins (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Daniel Neil.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:29
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:29
Attempt blocked. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:27
Foul by Mason Burstow (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:27
Attempt blocked. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Francisco Sierralta.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:27
Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:26
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:23
Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:23
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:23
Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:20
Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:15
Attempt saved. Tom Ince (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:15
Attempt saved. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Clarke.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:14
Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
20:17
Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:14
Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:12
Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:05
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Wesley Hoedt.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:05
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:05
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Tom Ince.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:05
Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdoullah Ba.
Sunderland vs Watford
20:01
Attempt blocked. Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
19:59
Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
19:56
Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
19:52
Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
19:51
Foul by Jeremy Ngakia (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
19:50
Foul by Francisco Sierralta (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
19:46
First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Watford
19:15
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Watford
18:45
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