Ellis Simms was missing as Sunderland made one change to the side that started the midweek win at Reading. Simms limped off in the first half with a toe injury against the Royals but Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray had said yesterday he was hopeful the on-loan Everton striker would be fit to face Watford.
But Simms was not in the matchday 18, and his place in the starting line-up was taken by Elliot Embleton - the man who had come off the bench to replace him at the Madejski Stadium. That meant Alex Pritchard started in the false nine position he has occupied to great effect after Simms had gone off against Reading.
With Embleton promoted from the bench, Mowbray included new signing Abdoullah Ba amongst his subs for the first time. Sunderland defender Luke O'Nien was lining up against the club where he began his career.
