WILSON ISIDOR'S first Sunderland start might have ended in defeat at Watford, but Regis Le Bris was still keen to praise the forward's performance at Vicarage Road.

Isidor, a summer loan signing from Zenit St Petersburg, was promoted to the starting line-up at Vicarage Road in place of the injured Eliezer Mayenda.

And the forward scored Sunderland's second-half equaliser before Tom Dele-Bashiru's penalty secured all three points for Watford.

Le Bris said: “Wilson did very well for the first game, he ran a lot and helped the team. It was difficult with one player against their back three. He tried, and it was a reward to score that goal.

“Our back four was not able to deal with their frontline, so after 50 minutes we decided to change our shape, to create a back five.

“At that moment, the game changed. But Watford are a strong side, in counter-attack. We knew if we lost the ball high up the pitch they could exploit us.

“At the end of the game, you are tired, and you need to be very accurate in your decisions. Watford kept their strength with their counter-attack after their own substitutes.

“During half-time we talked about defending late on. They had a long ball from a goal kick and we lost the first duel.”