This is lively! Lovely stuff from Jordan Pickford, tipping over Nathan Ake's curled effort from just outside the box. 

From the corner, Miguel Britos heads over when he perhaps should have done better.

And Sam Allardyce makes a change. Off comes Rees Greenwood, who's been with Sunderland since he was eight, and on comes George Honeyman, who's been with the club since he was 10.

Back under way.

One change to tell you about: Craig Cathcart is off and Juan Carlos Paredes is on for Watford.

Image source, PA

Well. Make nine changes for the final game of the season and you're effectively saying: Show me why you should stay. 

Sam Allardyce will have plenty of food for thought after this. Where's the Watford team that started this game so well though? Quique Sanches Flores' farewell party is at risk of falling flat.

Sunderland want this. Here's Dame N'Doye bearing down on goal as the away side break, but he hesitates too much though and Sebastian Prodl can steal in to clear for a corner, which is cleared. 

Now then. On the replay this looks like it should stand and Sunderland could be two to the good. It's really tight as Duncan Watmore runs on to a defense-splitting pass and slides home, but the flag was up.

Ooof!

Jack Rodwell now with a fierce effort from outside the box that flies just wide of the Watford goal! Gomes was well beaten. 

End-to-end these last few minutes. A goal before the break anyone?

Watford turn the screw. Jurado switches to the right flank and cuts in to Deeney, who can't collect it, but here's Abdi with a shot from the edge bravely blocked but only to Nathan Ake, who produces a fine save from Jordan Pickford low and to his left.

Image source, Reuters

Chance for Watford now - after lovely footwork from Ighalo to make space for a shot he drives one low, but it's just wide of Pickford's frame from the edge of the box.

Before Christmas and he scores that. 

Sunderland's best passage of play as Miguel Britos is forced to clear over his own crossbar from about three yards out. Duncan Watmore was picked out on the right and cut-back across goal, a delicious cushioned pass that Britos could well have turned in to his own net.

From the corner Gomes comes and flaps but eventually Watford chase it down, forcing the away side back.

What kind of an impression can Rees Greenwood make today then? Here he picks Craig Cathcart's pocket, wins a corner for the away side. But it's easily cleared again.

Just short on a bit of final quality... 

Image source, PA

Again a decent chance for the Hornets. Ighlao twists and turns to beat O'Shea all ends up in the box, he fires on goal but DeAndre Yedlin comes sliding across to block it. 

Watford corner, easily cleared.

Ping-Pong in the Sunderland box! A corner played to the back stick is headed back in by Ighalo, the away side can't clear it, the home side can't connect properly, and through a mix of flailing arms and legs, Almen Abdi fires straight at Pickford from the edge of the area.

Should have done better. It was tame.  

It's still looking like Watford's game to take, though.

Almen Abdi has another pop now, left foot this time, cutting in from the right he sends two Sunderland men sprawling... but can't direct his shot on target. Always high and wide, despite a bit of late curl.

It's relentless, the Sunderland support. Brilliant stuff. Securing your Premier League survival at the expense of your local rivals? That's a good feeling.

Ighalo and Deeney are looking ominous but so far they’ve not threatened Jordan Pickford in the Sunderland goal, despite Watford being clearly on top.

That's not stopping the away fans' party though; some are wearing Rafa Benitez masks (anyone need the reference?) and the vocal support is not letting up.

Image source, Getty Images

Watfrod are looking really smart here. Deeney, Ighalo and Jurado combine with some lovely play as the home side sweep from right to left. 

But when the crucial moment comes Ighalo wastes it with a weak shot from outside the box, rushed when he had time to take an extra touch.