Jewison Bennette announced his arrival at Sunderland with a fine finish to earn the Black Cats a draw at Watford. The Costa Rica international came off the bench to score a couple of minutes from time, opening his account for the club in the process.
Watford's on-loan Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis had put the Hornets in front ten minutes before half-time. But seconds before the break Aji Alese had levelled for the Wearsiders, with goalline technology alerting referee John Busby that his shot had crossed the line.
In the second period, Luke O'Nien scored an own-goal against the club where he started his career to put Watford ahead for a second time. Sunderland had chances to level things up but had to wait until Bennette struck in the last few minutes to secure the draw.
READ MORE: Watford 2-2 Sunderland report as Jewison Bennette strikes late to earn Sunderland a point
Here's how our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter rated the players.
Anthony Patterson 6
Did OK, although might have done better with the cross that led to the first goal
Luke O'Nien 6
Generally performed well and was unlucky to score the own-goal against his old club
Danny Batth 7
His physical presence at the heart of defence was needed against a powerful Watford side
Aji Alese 7
Impressive in defence and scored his first goal for the club on the stroke of half-time
Lynden Gooch 7
Got forward down the right and caused Watford one or two problems
Corry Evans 6
Worked hard to break up play in the middle of the park
Dan Neil 7
Kept it simple in the middle of the park
Jack Clarke 8
Offered a real attacking threat down the left, and only a tight offside decision denied him a goal
Patrick Roberts 7
A box of tricks in and around the penalty area, and it was his assist for Bennette's goal
Elliot Embleton 6
A decent performance in support of Pritchard
Alex Pritchard 7
Played in the false nine position once again, and performed well in that role
Subs
Amad Diallo 7
For Embleton 63mins. Lively when he came on, and thought he'd set up a goal for Clarke until the offside flag went up
Leon Dajaku 6
For Neil 73mins. Had a great chance to equalise before Bennette's goal, but missed the target
Jewison Bennette 8
For Clarke 73mins. Sunderland's hero, coming off the bench to score the equaliser in front of the away fans
Jay Matete N/A
For Evans 79mins.
Abdoullah Ba N/A
For Pritchard 79mins.
Not used: Bass, Hume
READ MORE:
- Sunderland's Tony Mowbray on playing 'football-savvy' Alex Pritchard as a false nine
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray explains defender Bailey Wright's absence at Reading
- Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray makes Blackburn transfer admission amid Niall Huggins injury update
- Ellis Simms scan inconclusive but Tony Mowbray 'hopeful' Sunderland forward could still face Watford
- Patrick Roberts on Sunderland's Plan B, and how it worked at Reading
