When Tony Mowbray discussses his players, he talks of soldiers and artists. And if Wednesday's resounding win at Reading was a day when artistic flair came to the fore, yesterday's hard-earned draw at Watford saw the soldiers on parade.
Last season there were two divisions between the sides, with Sunderland in League One and the Hornets competing in the Premier League, and both teams have retained the majority of their players. Watford started the season as one of the favourites for promotion while, outside the North East at any rate, Sunderland's return to the Championship was expected to be a season of consolidation.
But Sunderland's fighting qualities enabled them to bridge the gap at Vicarage Road, twice battling back from a goal down to take a deserved point. And it spoke volumes that at full-time Watford boss Rob Edwards was left to reflect on his 'frustration' at letting a lead slip which meant his side had now won just one of its last seven games, while Mowbray's disappointment was confined to the missed chances and which might have seen Sunderland claim back-to-back wins on the road.
