Andrews steps up for happy Hornets

RYAN ANDREWS gave new Watford boss Tom Cleverley the perfect welcome present to end his side’s 12-game winless run at Vicarage Road.

At the end of a week in which Cleverley’s status was changed from caretaker to permanent manager, it was fitting that his side should end their atrocious home record.

Cleverley said: “I would have taken a one-nil win before the game, but I’ll always be honest and that was possibly our poorest performance since I’ve been in charge.

“But the result was huge for us today. It’s massive to get the home win out of the way before the summer.”

Andrews, a half-time substitute, raced on to an Ismael Kone pass before driving a firm, low shot into the bottom corner.

The goal lifted a match which lurched along without incident for almost 40 minutes before Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann kept his side level twice in the space of four minutes.

First, the Austrian turned away a Chris Rigg shot with his outstretched ................. 1 .......... 0 left boot before he made an even better save to deflect a Trai Hume shot from point-blank range up and over his crossbar.

Jack Clarke then skewed his shot inches wide two minutes after the break as the visitors threatened to extend Watford’s winless run at home.

Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds said: “That’s a game we shouldn’t be losing, or even drawing. It could have been a three-nil or four-nil game to us.

“This group has to realise that they’ve got to take their chances.”

WATFORD: Bachmann 8; Porteous 7, Hoedt 9, Pollock 6; Grieves 5 (Andrews (46) 7), Kone 6, Kayembe 7, Sema 6 (Lewis (69) 6); Asprilla 6 (Livermore (90) 6), Dennis 5 (Martins (46) 5); Bayo 4 (Rajovic (80) 6) SUNDERLAND: Patterson 7; O’nien 6, Ballard 7, Alese 6 (Evans (78) 6); Hume 6, Ekwah 6 (Semedo (78) 6), Bellingham 5, Styles 6; Rigg 5 (Roberts (65) 6), Aouchiche 7 (Ba (65) 6), Clarke 7 STAR MAN: Wes Hoedt – Outstanding as he marshalled the Watford rearguard, cutting out passes to the Sunderland front men.

Oliver Langford 6