ON THIS DAY - FEBRUARY 7th
2009 PREM STOKE CITY H W 2-0
2004 LD1 Watford A D 2-2
1998 LD1 Wolverhampton Wanderers A W 1-0
1987 DIV2 Brighton & Hove Albion A W 3-0
1981 DIV1 Middlesbrough A L 0-1
1976 DIV2 Fulham A L 0-2
1973 FAC Reading A W 3-1
1962 LGEC NORWICH CITY H L 1-4
1959 DIV2 Ipswich Town A W 2-0
1953 DIV1 Chelsea A L 2-3
1931 DIV1 LEEDS UNITED H W 4-0
1925 DIV1 Notts. County A L 1-4
1920 DIV1 MANCHESTER UNITED H W 3-0
1914 DIV1 Sheffield United A L 0-1
1912 FAC CRYSTAL PALACE H W 1-0
1906 FAC Gainsborough Trinity A W 3-0
1903 FAC Aston Villa A L 1-4
1891 FLGE Derby County A L 1-3
2003/4 Watford 2 Sunderland 2
WATFORD: Pidgeley, Cox, Dyche, Ifil, Smith, Hyde, Ardley (Cook 90), Mahon, Fitzgerald (Vernazza 82), Devlin (Bouazza 90), Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Dyer.
SUNDERLAND: Poom, Wright, Bjorklund, Babb, McCartney, McAteer, Whitley, Thirlwell (Byfield 59), Arca, Tommy Smith (Stewart 59), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Oster, Williams, Alnwick.
Att: 16,798
Darren Byfield's goal on his debut just four minutes from time saw Sunderland claw their way back from a two-goal deficit to seal a share of the spoils.
And the visitors could even have snatched victory in injury time when Jason McAteer's lob hit the woodwork.
Struggling Watford had shocked their high-flying visitors as an early goal from Gavin Mahon gave his side the initiative and a second-half penalty from Neil Cox had seemingly put the home side on course for victory.
Sunderland, with four league wins out of five going into this match, had started with new signing Byfield on the bench.
But Mick McCarthy's promotion-chasers were rocked after just seven minutes as the home side, just a point above the relegation zone before kick-off, took the lead.
Paul Devlin's flick found Scott Fitzgerald, whose cutback was coolly sidefooted past Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom by midfielder Mahon.
Sunderland won the first corner of the game two minutes later but McAteer's flag-kick was cleared by Micah Hyde as the home side grew in confidence.
The Wearsiders continued to push forward with dangerous crosses from Julio Arca and Paul Thirlwell putting the Hornets' defence under pressure.
But Watford looked dangerous in attack as Mahon tested Poom with a close-range header after 13 minutes.
Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, Sunderland were continually frustrated by some resolute defending from the home side.
Arca volleyed a shot over the crossbar on the half-hour as, despite all their pressure, the visitors rarely troubled Watford goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts again threatened seven minutes before the interval when Poom had to save with his feet from Heidar Helguson and Sean Dyche's shot from Neal Ardley's corner was cleared by Kevin Kyle.
And Sunderland missed a chance just before the break when George McCartney's cross found McAteer, but he steered his header wide of the target.
Sunderland started the second half strongly but chances remained at a premium and they were restricted to long-range efforts on goal.
Thirlwell tried his luck from distance after 52 minutes but his shot was too high and failed to trouble Pidgeley, who then cut out Arca's cross to keep the visitors at bay.
In an effort to turn things around and pep up his attack McCarthy introduced strikers Marcus Stewart and Byfield on the hour in place of Tommy Smith and Thirlwell.
But it was Watford who regained the initiative and they doubled their advantage from the penalty spot just five minutes later.
Phil Babb was adjudged to have fouled Helguson and Cox thumped his spot-kick past Poom.
But Sunderland gave themselves hope by halving the deficit with 14 minutes remaining.
McAteer's corner was flicked on by Stephen Wright and Stewart powered home a header. Byfield then stole the headlines with his late intervention.
RESULTS THAT DAY 2003/4
Barclaycard Premiership
ASTON VILLA (1) 2 LEEDS UNITED (0) 0 39,171
Angel 45 (pen)
Johnsen 59
BOLTON WANDERERS (1) 2 LIVERPOOL (0) 2 27,552
Hunt 11
Djorkaeff 58
Hyypiä 51
Gerrard 69
EVERTON (0) 3 MANCHESTER UNITED (3) 4 40,190
O'Shea 65 (og)
Kilbane 75
Saha 9, 29
van Nistelrooy 24, 89
MIDDLESBROUGH (0) 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS (1) 1 28,307
Stead 39
NEWCASTLE UNITED (2) 3 LEICESTER CITY (0) 1 52,125
Ameobi 30
Taggart 37 (og)
Jenas 59
Ferdinand 80
SOUTHAMPTON (0) 0 FULHAM (0) 0 31,820
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (2) 4 PORTSMOUTH (1) 3 36,107
Defoe 13
Keane 42, 79
Poyet 89
Berkovic 39
Lua Lua 73
Mornar 84
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1) 1 ARSENAL (1) 3 29,392
Ganea 26
Bergkamp 9
Henry 58
Toure 63
Nationwide League Division One
BRADFORD CITY (1) 1 WEST HAM UNITED (0) 2 13,078
Zamora 65
Harewood 78
BURNLEY (0) 1 GILLINGHAM (0) 0 10,400
Little 83
DERBY COUNTY (0) 2 CARDIFF CITY (0) 2 20,958
Taylor 49
Osman 90
Earnshaw 60
Kavanagh 62
IPSWICH TOWN (0) 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC (2) 3 22,093
Kuqi 60
Roberts 18
Ellington 33
Teale 53
MILLWALL (1) 1 STOKE CITY (1) 1 9,034
Dichio 23
Clarke 4
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (0) 0 COVENTRY CITY (1) 1 23,075
Suffo 4
PRESTON NORTH END (1) 3 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (0) 0 16,569
Lewis 33
Healy 75
Alexander 87 (pen)
ROTHERHAM UNITED (2) 5 READING (1) 1 6,405
Proctor 24 (pen), 79
Monkhouse 36
Butler 47
Barker 90
Goater 20 (pen)
SHEFFIELD UNITED (0) 0 CRYSTAL PALACE (1) 3 23,816
Johnson 42
Popovic 57
Shipperley 87
WALSALL (1) 1 CREWE ALEXANDRA (0) 1 6,871
Leitao 27
Foster 85
WATFORD (1) 2 SUNDERLAND (0) 2 16,798
Mahon 7
Stewart 76
Byfield 86
WIMBLEDON (0) 0 NORWICH CITY (1) 1 7,368
Huckerby 16
Nationwide League Division One 2003/2004
Historical league standings at 7th February 2004
Home Away Overall
# Team Pl W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD
1 Norwich City 30 12 1 2 26 11 5 7 3 21 15 17 8 5 47 26 59 21
2 West Bromwich Albion 30 8 5 2 22 11 7 4 4 20 16 15 9 6 42 27 54 15
3 Wigan Athletic 30 7 6 2 18 10 6 5 4 24 21 13 11 6 42 31 50 11
4 Sheffield United 30 8 4 3 27 16 6 3 6 18 20 14 7 9 45 36 49 9
5 West Ham United 30 6 5 4 24 17 6 7 2 19 13 12 12 6 43 30 48 13
6 Sunderland 29 8 5 1 18 7 5 4 6 20 19 13 9 7 38 26 48 12
7 Ipswich Town 30 8 2 5 34 25 5 6 4 21 22 13 8 9 55 47 47 8
8 Preston North End 29 9 3 3 31 17 4 4 6 15 18 13 7 9 46 35 46 11
9 Reading 30 8 3 4 21 18 5 3 7 15 22 13 6 11 36 40 45 -4
10 Millwall 30 7 6 2 17 9 4 5 6 17 20 11 11 8 34 29 44 5
11 Crystal Palace 31 4 6 5 18 19 8 2 6 27 24 12 8 11 45 43 44 2
12 Cardiff City 30 6 5 4 27 16 5 5 5 21 23 11 10 9 48 39 43 9
13 Stoke City 30 7 5 3 24 17 5 2 8 16 21 12 7 11 40 38 43 2
14 Coventry City 30 4 8 3 16 15 5 5 5 22 19 9 13 8 38 34 40 4
15 Crewe Alexandra 30 9 2 4 24 15 2 5 8 15 26 11 7 12 39 41 40 -2
16 Rotherham United 30 6 5 4 21 17 3 5 7 15 25 9 10 11 36 42 37 -6
17 Walsall 30 6 6 3 22 19 3 3 9 10 20 9 9 12 32 39 36 -7
18 Gillingham 29 7 1 7 17 20 3 5 6 16 23 10 6 13 33 43 36 -10
19 Burnley 30 6 4 5 22 18 2 6 7 17 30 8 10 12 39 48 34 -9
20 Watford 30 4 7 4 18 21 3 3 9 14 23 7 10 13 32 44 31 -12
21 Derby County 30 5 4 6 22 26 2 6 7 11 23 7 10 13 33 49 31 -16
22 Nottingham Forest 29 4 4 6 19 16 3 4 8 15 22 7 8 14 34 38 29 -4
23 Bradford City 31 3 2 11 14 26 3 3 9 9 19 6 5 20 23 45 23 -22
24 Wimbledon 30 2 3 10 14 26 3 0 12 14 32 5 3 22 28 58 18 -30