Next up for Watford is a trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday evening (October 4, 7.45pm KO).
Ahead of the fixture, we take a look back at five of the best encounters between the Golden Boys and the Black Cats over the years, as Valérien Ismaël’s side hope to replicate some of the memorable victories below.
Watford 8-0 Sunderland – September 25, 1982
Watford’s greatest post-war league winning margin came less than a month into their first-ever season in the top-flight, with an electric 8-0 victory against the Black Cats.
Graham Taylor’s Hornets were already flying high off the back of promotion to the First Division, and they truly stamped their authority against Sunderland. A brace apiece from Nigel Callaghan and Ross Jenkins, combined with a mesmeric four goals from Luther Blissett, ensured Watford confirmed a memorable victory en route to a second-place finish in the table that year.
For more information on that encounter, click HERE.
Sunderland 1-3 Watford – November 19, 1994
Opened in 1898 and closed in 1997, Roker Park was Sunderland’s home before the Stadium of Light and Watford earned their final win there in 1994. Under Glenn Roeder, the Hornets put three past the Black Cats with Tommy Mooney, Andy Hessenthaler and Lee Nogan all etching their names onto the scoresheet.
Defying the pre-season predictions, Roeder’s side battled for a play-off position at the back end of the 1994/95 campaign, eventually finishing just short.
Sunderland 0-1 Watford – February 15, 2003
After opening in 1997, Watford had a difficult record at the Stadium of Light before going on to break ground with their first victory in 2003. That all-important maiden win came in the FA Cup fifth round, with Tommy Smith’s spot-kick separating the sides.
The winger exhibited impressive composure after being forced to retake the penalty, with goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen adjudged to have stepped off his line to save the first effort. With safe passage to the next round of the FA Cup secured, it also confirmed a first quarter-final appearance in 15 years, with Watford making it all the way to the final four before being knocked out by Southampton.
Sunderland 0-1 Watford – December 12, 2015
The Hornets’ last victory at the Stadium of Light came in 2015 when an early Odion Ighalo strike set Watford on their way to three points. The likes of Nathan Aké, Etienne Capoue and Craig Cathcart were tasked with maintaining that narrow margin, eventually delivering the three points at the full-time whistle.
Ighalo’s goal meant he had become the first Watford player to reach double figures in goals in a Premier League season. Prior to the victory, the Golden Boys hadn’t secured a win against the Black Cats in the league since the turn of the millennium.
Watford 1-0 Sunderland – April 1, 2017
A popular scoreline, Watford and Sunderland played out another 1-0 contest in April 2017, with this one being the Hornets’ most recent victory against the Black Cats.
Rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, the Wearside-based club produced a valiant effort at Vicarage Road. However, Watford’s quality eventually edged it as Miguel Britos headed the home side in front with half-an-hour left on the clock, ending the Hornets’ four-game winless run.
