Sunderland vs Watford LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Watford in the Championship today.

An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.

Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.

Sunderland AFC 2 - 2 Watford FC

Sunderland vs Watford

14:29

Match ends, Sunderland 2, Watford 2.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:28

Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Watford 2.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:28

Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:28

Ian Poveda (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:26

Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:26

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:25

Delay in match because of an injury James Abankwah (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

14:25

Attempt saved. Milan Aleksic (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wilson Isidor.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:24

Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda with a through ball.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:23

Offside, Sunderland. Ian Poveda is caught offside.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:24

Attempt missed. Milan Aleksic (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:22

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:22

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:24

Attempt saved. Imrân Louza (Watford) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top right corner.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:21

Goal! Sunderland 2, Watford 2. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Wilson Isidor following a corner.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:20

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Abankwah.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:19

Foul by Mattie Pollock (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

14:19

Attempt saved. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ian Poveda.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:17

Substitution, Watford. Francisco Sierralta replaces Moussa Sissoko.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:17

Substitution, Sunderland. Dan Ballard replaces Chris Mepham.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:14

Foul by Mattie Pollock (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

14:14

Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:14

Substitution, Watford. Tom Ince replaces Mamadou Doumbia.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:14

Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:11

Moussa Sissoko (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:11

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Egil Selvik.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:09

Foul by Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

14:08

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Imrân Louza.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:07

Foul by Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

14:05

Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:04

Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:04

Substitution, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda replaces Chris Rigg.

Sunderland vs Watford

14:01

Foul by Ryan Andrews (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:58

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Trai Hume.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:56

Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:55

Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:56

Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:55

Attempt blocked. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:53

Substitution, Watford. Jeremy Ngakia replaces Yasser Larouci.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:53

Offside, Sunderland. Luke O'Nien is caught offside.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:53

Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:53

Substitution, Sunderland. Ian Poveda replaces Patrick Roberts.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:53

Substitution, Sunderland. Milan Aleksic replaces Salis Abdul Samed.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:48

Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:48

Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:44

Attempt missed. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:44

Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:43

Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:42

Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:42

Imrân Louza (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:42

Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:42

Foul by Ryan Andrews (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:41

Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:40

Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:40

Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:37

Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 2. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:37

Foul by Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:36

Second Half begins Sunderland 1, Watford 1.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:20

First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Watford 1.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:19

Attempt missed. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:17

Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:17

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:14

Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 1. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:14

Penalty Watford. Mamadou Doumbia draws a foul in the penalty area.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:14

Attempt saved. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Yasser Larouci with a cross.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:12

Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Yasser Larouci.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:12

Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:10

Attempt missed. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) header from the right side of the box.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:09

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:09

Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:06

Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:06

James Abankwah (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:05

Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:04

Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:04

Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:04

Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

13:01

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Abankwah.

Sunderland vs Watford

13:00

Ryan Andrews (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:56

Attempt missed. Moussa Sissoko (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:56

Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:50

Attempt saved. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:49

Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

12:48

Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 0. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Trai Hume following a corner.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:46

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:47

Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:46

Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

12:46

Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:43

Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:43

Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).

Sunderland vs Watford

12:45

Attempt blocked. Mattie Pollock (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:41

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:41

Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée with a cross.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:39

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Abankwah.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:38

Attempt saved. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:32

First Half begins.

Sunderland vs Watford

12:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Sunderland vs Watford

10:30

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