WATCH: Sunderland 1-0 Watford

Patrick van Aanholt ended a bad week in style by ensuring Sunderland will not spend Christmas at the bottom of the Premier League when he fired them to victory over Watford.

The Dutchman, who has been banned from driving for speeding, tucked home his third goal of the season in the 49th minute for what proved to be the winner to secure three precious points at the Stadium of Light.

After an indifferent first half, Black Cats boss David Moyes, who this week learned he will have little or no cash to spend during the January transfer window, saw his team finally get going to secure a fourth league win in seven games.

Heurelho Gomes was left helpless within four minutes of the restart when Adnan Januzaj picked out Jermain Defoe's run and the striker crossed for the supporting Van Aanholt to turn Christian Kabasele and fire home off the inside of the far post.

Defoe himself shot over from distance two minutes later with Sunderland visibly growing in confidence, but they slept to allow Etienne Capoue and Nordin Amrabat to combine from a 59th-minute corner once again, although this time the latter's shot flew high over.

Troy Deeney passed up an opportunity to finally complete a century of goals for the Hornets with a 73rd-minuite diving header, but it took a double-save from Jordan Pickford to prevent substitute Daryl Janmaat and then Odion Ighalo from snatching a late equaliser.

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