Sunderland moved off the bottom of the Premier League on Saturday with a 1-0 victory earned by a gritty display against Watford at the Stadium of Light.
Full-back Patrick van Aanholt surged forward and was just six yards from goal when he spun acrobatically and hooked Jerman Defoe's perfect low cross into the net to complete a sweeping move started by midfielder Adnan Januzaj.
Both sides had chances in a tight and not always very attractive game, but determined Sunderland defending, capped by some important saves by Jordan Pickford, kept out Watford. Sunderland manager David Moyes, denied several experienced players though injury and told by the club to expect little or nothing to spend in the January transfer window, will be heartened not only by a fourth win of the season but also the improved form of Januzaj and man-of-the-match Jason Denayer.