Watford 1-0 Sunderland: Miguel Angel Britos header wins it to all but secure survival and leave David Moyes's side facing life in the Championship

Daily Mail | April 1, 2017

Sunderland's battle for Premier League survival took an almighty blow as they succumbed to a narrow defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road.

Tom Cleverley, playing his first game for Watford since completing a permanent move from Everton, delivered the pivotal corner, which was hit onto the bar. Craig Cathcart was first to react and headed it back across goal where Britos was there to head it in.

The defeat leaves the Black Cats seven points from safety while also lifting Watford seven points from danger.

More to follow...

Watford's Miguel Britos rises head and shoulders above all Sunderland players to head the ball into the net for the first goal

Britos of Watford celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match against Sunderland

Watford players celebrate in front of their own fans at Vicarage Road after taking the lead through a Britos header

Etienne Capoue andu00a0Isaac Success celebrate withu00a0Britos after the defender gave Watford the lead in the second half — Etienne Capoue and Isaac Success celebrate with Britos after the defender gave Watford the lead in the second half

Watofrd captain Troy Deeney and Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe greet each other before the Premier League tie

Watford's controversial mascot Harry the Hornet encourages the home crowd at Vicarage Road before kick-off

Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue looks at referee Lee Probert in disbelief after disagreeing with a decisionu00a0 — Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue looks at referee Lee Probert in disbelief after disagreeing with a decision

Watford goalkeeperu00a0Heurelho Gomes dives for the ball as it whistles just wide of his right post close to half-time — Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes dives for the ball as it whistles just wide of his right post close to half-time

Watford's Younes Kaboul in action with Sunderland's Adnan Januzaj tussle for the ball during a first-half encounter

Kaboul of Watford limps off the field with the help of a physio after suffering an injury late in the first-half

Defoe cries out in pain after coming together with Watford staru00a0Abdoulaye Doucoure sees him injure his leg — Defoe cries out in pain after coming together with Watford star Abdoulaye Doucoure sees him injure his leg

Darren Gibson of Sunderland and referee Probert check on their top scorer Defoe, who requires medical attention

Britos of Watford surprises Sunderland's defence after arriving at the back post unmarked to open the scoring

Goalkeeper of Watford Gomes celebrates on his own after seeing his team take the lead at the other end of the pitch

Sunderland's Wahbi Khazri gestures the the linesman after being given offside in the build up to a great chance

Khazri is shown a yellow card for dissent after he confronted the assistant referee over an offside decision

David Moyes looks on in frustration after seeing his Sunderland side fail to take advantage of an opportunity to score