Watford have continued their good run of form by beating Sunderland 1-0 on the weekend.
Odion Ighalo scored his 10th goal of the season as the Hornets edged the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.
The only goal of the contest came in the fourth minute when Allan Nyom made a dashing run down the right flank, putting the ball in front of Ighalo who poked home past Costel Pantilimon with an outstretched leg.
The result puts Quique Sanchez Flores' side up to sixth on the table on the back of a three-game winning streak with Sam Allardyce's Sunderland dropped to second bottom with a second straight defeat.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Sunderland: 0
Watford: 1 (Odion Ighalo 4')
Stadium of Light, Sunderland - 43,989
TALKING POINTS
- Watford keep getting the job done. Do they have the quality to push for a surprise European appearance?
- Another defeat for the Black Cats. Will this be a season of disaster or can things still turn for Allardyce's men?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Sunderland will be searching for maximum points when they head to Chelsea on Saturday as Watford go after four in a row at home against Liverpool on Sunday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great win from the team! 3 wins in the last 3 games #watfordfc@AdleneGUEDIOURA@ighalojude@ObbiOulare@T_Deeneypic.twitter.com/pfw2QD1Lz5
— Nathan Aké (@NathanAke) December 12, 2015Wasn't bad for a "very beatable team" not a great performance but we got the job done safe journey back for everybody
— Troy Deeney (@T_Deeney) December 12, 20153 WINS BACK TO BACK TO BACK !!!!!!
GOD IS TRUE & FAITHFUL
PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH
Safe journey back to all
— Ikechi (@IkechiAnya) December 12, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Watford boss Flores on the performance of his side:
"We are really pleased with performance of the players. We are completely focussed on the target and the level of confidence is very high. They are always thinking about how we can improve.
"My expectation before every single match is very high, but always the players come and to improve always."
Sunderland's Allardyce on the goal woes he is experiencing:
"When I opened my big mouth two weeks ago and said, 'I think I have got enough goals', I think I should have kept it shut."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
42 - O.Ighalo (25) & T.Deeney (17) have scored 42 league goals combined in 2015; 10 more than Sunderland have overall this year (32). Duo.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 12, 201510 - Odion Ighalo is the first Watford player to reach double figures for goals in a single Premier League season (10). Lethal.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 12, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
Goals - Jermain Defoe, Steven Fletcher 4
Assists - Yann M'Vila 4
Clean sheets - Costel Pantilimon 3
Yellow cards - Billy Jones 5
Red cards - Younes Kaboul, Jeremain Lens 1
Goals - Odion Ighalo 10
Assists - Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo 5
Clean sheets - Heurelho Gomes 7
Yellow cards - Allan Nyom, Etienne Capoue 4
Red cards - Valon Behrami 1
