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does, but he said defiantly: “Miracles have happened at Sunderland before.
“I wouldn’t say we need a miracle this time but we need some wins, that’s for sure, if we are going to get out of this situation.”
Mazzarri said after a welcome win: “I don’t think we are clear of relegation yet, but this is an important win.
“We played well at times and when you are playing so well you have to take your chances. If we do that, we will be safe. But, not yet.”
With both managers under pressure, speculation about their respective futures added an extra edge to a fixture that would not have appealed to the masses.
Vital to Watford though, after a poor run had seen them win just two of their previous 13 games and gone four without victory.
The stats don’t stack up too well for Sunderland either, and they can’t buy a goal.
Even Jermain Defoe’s well has dried up of late – for club at least. Yesterday he hardly had a look in. Not a sniff of the ball, let alone goal.
At least Sunderland can take some solace from the fact they have the next England No.1 in their ranks. Jordan Pickford looks certain to replace Joe Hart in the national team in the not-toodistant future.
This boy is a class act and, after Watford had threatened on a couple of occasions early on, the Sunderland keeper showed why he is so highly rated.
Having kept out an effort by M’baye Niang, the England Under-21 star produced one of the saves of the season to deny Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Watford were the better side by far, with Nordin Amrabat a real worker as well as a wing wizard.
But they appeared to have come up against an immovable object in Pickford.
Until the 59th minute that is – when Britos took advantage of more desperate and deplorable Sunderland defending to rise highest and head home.
I would not say we need a miracle... just wins DAVID MOYES