Patrick van Aanholt scored his third goal of the season to give Sunderland their third win in four home matches as they beat Watford 1-0.
The left-back expertly controlled Jermain Defoe’s centre before turning to score on 49 minutes.
David Moyes’s side will be grateful to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who denied Nordin Amrabat, Daryl Janmaat and Odion Ighalo as Watford piled on the pressure.
Troy Deeney headed wide as Sunderland held firm to move off the bottom of the table to 18th, and within a point of safety. Watford dropped a place to 12th.
See: Sunderland report | Watford report