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| Ighalo slides in and beats Sunderland's defence to score Watford's winner at the Stadium of Light |
ODION IGHALO claimed his third goal in three games as Watford chalked up a double first.
Quique Sanchez Flores' side made it three straight wins and seven victories in a Premier League season for the first time.
But Sebastian Coates had a guilty look as Ighalo celebrated, the Sunderland defender having appeared to get the final touch to the fourth-minute decider.
Substitute Jermain Defoe might have salvaged something for Sam Allardyce's Black Cats after his 71st-minute introduction.
The former England striker forced a brilliant one-handed save from keeper Heurelho Gomes and nudged the ball narrowly wide on the end of Patrick van Aanholt's delivery.
But Ighalo also had chances late in the game to increase Watford's lead when he was twice denied by Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon, while Coates snuffed out another opportunity.
Ighalo, who scored both goals in the Hornets' 2-1 win at Newcastle in September, was soon buzzing on his return the north-east.
The Nigerian quickly terrorised a Sunderland defence weakened by the loss of an unwell Younes Kaboul.
Right-back Allan Nyom centred and Ighalo toe-poked the ball at the near post before it looked to take a touch off Coates' boot to beat Pantilimon.
Almen Abdi almost added a second four minutes later when he controlled Nathan Ake's left-wing cross but saw his shot blocked.
Sunderland simply couldn't cope with the visitors' early onslaught and Ighalo came desperately close to extending the lead on 11 minutes.
Ighalo's shot was saved by Pantilimon and his follow-up was miraculously cleared off the line by Coates.
And in the ensuing scramble, Abdi's effort was blocked before Jose Manuel Jurado fired against a post.
Fabio Borini produced Sunderland's first serious attempt on goal in the 17th minute when he went outside Miguel Britos but pulled his finish agonisingly wide of the far upright.
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