Black Cats in a big mess
deflection which wrongfooted Heurelho Gomes but the ball flew just wide.
Pickford then had to get down sharply to block another Niang effort at the near post, and from the corner Craig Cathcart headed straight at the Black Cats goalkeeper.
The breakthrough arrived in the 59th minute, and it was hardly a goal straight off the training ground.
Okaka met Tom Cleverley’s corner with a header, which Sunderland forward Fabio Borini inadvertently nodded onto his own crossbar.
The ball flew out to Cathcart, who headed it back across goal for Britos to bundle in at the far post.
Moments later substitute Isaac Success burst through one-on-one with Pickford but the keeper spread himself well to block the Nigerian’s shot with his legs.
Januzaj was then replaced to the sound of sarcastic jeers from the away support, who were clearly not impressed with his efforts.
Jose Holebas almost doubled Watford’s advantage with a 20- yard drive which beat Pickford but, luckily for the Black Cats, also the crossbar.
Instead Sunderland pressed for an equaliser, but Gomes kept out Borini’s long- range effort to secure the points and deepen the gloom on Wearside.
“I don’t know about miracles, but we know they happen and it’s happened a couple of times recently to Sunderland,” said Black Cats boss Moyes.
“They’ve been here before – I’ve not been here before, it’s new to me – but hopefully people at the club know exactly what it’s like.
“I’ve been told we were seven points behind with six games left before, and if you can do it from that position you can do it from any.
“We need to keep going and keep on trying to pick up the points. But we are not playing well enough, I’m not kidding anyone on. We need to play much better.”