Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has praised key individuals for their performances in his side’s win over Watford.
It was a back-and-forth affair with the Hornets but the Black Cats created more and took their chances when they came.
Niall Huggins opened the scoring late in the first half with a goal that took everyone by surprise.
He slalomed past multiple Watford players before smashing an effort in off the bar.
It was 2-0 when Abdoullah Ba took advantage of a six-yard box scramble to head into an empty net.
That was how it stayed through to the final whistle, with a result that sent Mowbray’s men to fourth place.
What has Tony Mowbray said?
The manager was pleased with the display, but the early showings partially concerned him.
On that, he said: “We did huff and puff again for 40 minutes in the first half. We were against a really strong and powerful team, but we got the job done.
“I’m really pleased with the discipline and the centre-backs were amazing tonight”
Goals have been coming from all over the pitch and with Ba and Huggins scoring that is just further evidence.
On the midfielder, he said: “Abdoullah scoring shows that goals are coming from all over the pitch.
“He has wonderful athleticism and I’m pleased for him that he has broken through any kind of ceiling that was there, trying to disrupt [Patrick] Roberts and Clarke every week.
“He’s powerful in the air, he’s got a wonderful spring, he can run all day, he’s fast and mobile. He just has to work on his end product, and today he scored so there is the answer to a question.”
Mowbray was happy to see goals coming from new areas rather than relying on the same players.
Discussing the usual suspects, he said: “It normally comes from Clarke or from Roberts, and yet this time it was Niall who scored an amazing goal.
“I’m really delighted with Niall. He’s had a tough time in my year or so here with injury. Yet it has been splattered with really good moments.”
A great result and the top form continues for Mowbray’s side and with more goals coming, it looks promising.