Watford got back to winning ways with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Sunderland at Vicarage Road.

Angelo Ogbonna made his home debut while Edo Kayembe returned to the starting line-up after injury.

In attack, Vakoun Bayo was preferred to loan signing Daniel Jebbison.

Having managed to avoid conceding early for the first time in four league games, Watford got a grip of the game and had carved out some good chances before Festy Ebosele swept home a volley from Yasser Larouci’s cross for his first goal for the club.

Sunderland came into the game after Watford went ahead, and Jonathan Bond made one very good flying save.

The second half was very even once the visitors had levelled things up, and it turned into a game that was available to both sides to win.

In the end, it was a confidently-struck penalty from Tom Dele-Bashiru that sealed the points after a great run from Kwadwo Baah ended with him being fouled.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

5 - Kayembe crossed to the back post, Larouci volleyed and the ball was blocked for a corner.

7 - Cirkin accelerated into the box on the left, low cross poked wide of the near post by Isidor.

10 - Kayembe fierce curling shot from the corner of the box, Patterson pushed away.

12 - Nice move from left to right ended with Ebosele cutting in and seeing a shot blocked.

14 - Bayo read Sunderland's attempt to let the ball run out and stole it off O'Nien before hitting a shot from a tight angle that Patterson had to push to safety.

23 - Larouci did very well to beat his man near the corner flag and then floated a cross which Bayo climbed well to meet but Patterson stretched to hold his header.

28 – Watford 1 (Ebosele) Sunderland 0

Great finish from Ebosele who swept home a low left-foot volley after a fine cross from Larouci.

30 - Excellent tip over from Bond after Rigg had volleyed Roberts' free kick.

37 - Roberts took a corner short to Mundle, he crossed and Rigg headed well wide.

38 - Watford lost the ball on their left and Bellingham broke. Ogbonna showed him outside as he raced into the box and the midfielder fired a shot across Bond and wide of the back post.

44 - Fast break saw Chakvetadze release Sissoko on the right. He drove into the box, checked and then decided to square to Bayo rather than shoot. The striker got a shot away but it was blocked.

Half-time – Watford 1 Sunderland 0

48 – Watford 1 Sunderland 1 (Isidor)

This time Watford are caught cold at the start of the second half as Roberts surges towards the by-line and then crosses for Isidor to turn the ball past Bond at the near post.

50 - Chakvetadze chips into the box and Bayo stretches to head over Patterson but wide.

58 - Bellingham shoots from 25 yards and Bond dives to palm it away.

71 - Mundle cuts in from the left and strikes a low shot that Bond goes full length to push away.

84 – Watford 2 (Dele-Bashiru pen) Sunderland

A great run by Baah ends with him being upended by Neil and it’s punished by an excellent spot-kick from Dele-Bashiru whose slow run-up is followed by a firm shot into the bottom left corner.

90+2 - Hume's corner is met by keeper Patterson who sends his header straight at Bond.

Full-time – Watford 2 Sunderland 1

Watford: Bond; Pollock, Ogbonna, Morris; Ebosele (Porteous 56), Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Larouci (Sema 56); Chakvetadze (Baah 74), Kayembe (ince 56); Bayo (Jebbison 68). Subs: Marriott, Louza, Vata, Tikvic.