Match Pack: Sunderland v Watford

• Sunderland v Watford
• Sky Bet Championship
• Stadium of Light
• Wednesday October 4, 7.45pm KO
• Turquoise blue third kit

• Referee: Andy Davies
• Assistant Referees: Graham Kane and Carl Fitch-Jackson
• Fourth Official: Simon Mather

Sunderland head into Wednesday evening’s enticing fixture as one of the form teams in the Championship, sitting fourth in the standings and with five wins in seven.

Tony Mowbray’s eye-catching side saw off Sheffield Wednesday - currently managed by former Hornets boss Xisco Muñoz - 3-0 on their travels last time out, as they look to better their play-off semi-final exploits of last season.

• Both league meetings last season finished 2-2, with Sunderland coming back from losing positions to earn a point both times. Not since their first three Football League meetings between August 1970 and August 1971 have there been three successive draws between the sides.

• Watford are unbeaten in each of their last three league games against Sunderland (W1 D2), making it their longest unbeaten run against the Black Cats in the Football League since September 1993.

• The Hornets have lost only one of their last six midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), along with three wins and two draws, including a 2-2 draw in their only previous such game this season against West Bromwich Albion.

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Sunderland In Numbers.

Watford Head Coach Valérien Ismaël confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Ken Sema (calf) remains sidelined for now, but the remainder of his squad is available for selection.

For Sunderland, Bradley Dack, Pierre Ekwah and Dennis Cirkin will be missing, as well as longer-term absentees Aji Alese, Eliezer Mayenda and Corry Evans.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

“The confidence is still high - we’re frustrated but we’re not too down. We just have to re-focus; it’s a quick turnaround and we’re ready for the next game.

“It’s going to be another tough away match. We need to step up in our performance and in our self-belief. We know we’ve got the quality but we need to show that on the pitch, to show we’re able to compete and be brave. We’ve got our identity, we just need to believe in our way and execute things properly.”

To watch Ismaël’s pre-match press conference in full, click HERE.

Tony Mowbray, Sunderland Head Coach:

“I think Watford have got very talented footballers. They look really athletic and I’m not sure why their results haven’t quite been there so far. They’re capable of scoring really good goals and they’ve got good individuals, and I know it’s going to be a tough test for us.

“I don’t anticipate them coming here and banking everyone behind the ball, because I think the talent they’ve got suggests they’ll try to utilise that. Our intention would be to be positive in attack, so I think it could be a really good game.”

Overall:

Won: 11
Drawn: 16
Lost: 18

Last Six:

April 2023: Sunderland 2-2 Watford (Championship)
September 2022: Watford 2-2 Sunderland (Championship)
April 2017: Watford 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
December 2016: Sunderland 1-0 Watford (Premier League)
May 2016: Watford 2-2 Sunderland (Premier League)
December 2015: Sunderland 0-1 Watford (Premier League)

A brace apiece from Nigel Callaghan and Ross Jenkins, combined with a mesmeric four goals from Luther Blissett, earned Watford their greatest post-war league winning margin less than a month into their first ever season in the top-flight, in September 1982.