Goals from Michael Tonge and Chris Porter secured a 2-0 victory for Derby County over Watford this afternoon at Pride Park.

Tonge lashed home a superb opener after twelve minutes and Porter doubled the lead late on with a composed finish as Derby bounced back from back-to-back defeats in the perfect manner.

Derby were able to call upon the services of leading goalscorer Rob Hulse who shook off the back problem that ruled him out of last Saturday's defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Hulse replaced Gilles Sunu in the starting line-up, who reverted to the bench after spending the whole week away with the France U19 squad.

A moments applause in memory of Keith Alexander took place before kick-off after the Macclesfield Town manager tragically passed away this week.

The Rams started in confident mood and a surging run down the left by Pearson created a first shot of the game for Green but Loach palmed his effort away.

Derby broke the deadlock after twelve minutes, and in came in some style from Michael Tonge.

The on-loan Stoke City midfielder let fly from thirty yards with a thunderbolt of a shot which crashed past Loach via the underside of the bar, his first goal in Derby colours.

Chances were restricted from that point, but Derby continued to dominate in terms of possession and pressure, playing some neat and attractive football to work themselves into good positions but in the final third the ball just wasn't running their way.

Watford had just one half noteworthy chance in the closing stages of the first half, but Graham glanced header over the bar.

Derby fired in the first effort of the second half through Green, but Loach saved easily.

At the other end Bywater made a fine save diving to his right to turn away Lansbury's long-range drive which was arrowing towards the bottom corner during a spell of Watford pressure.

Going forwards the creativity of Tonge and the pace of Pearson out wide continually put Watford under pressure, but last-gasp clearances from De Merit and Taylor denied Hulse and Porter opportunities to double Derby's lead.

Watford squandered a terrific opportunity to draw level with twenty minutes left when Lansbury latched onto a weak back-header by Moxey, but he got the ball caught under his feet and Moxey got back to clear.

Derby had some defending to do as Watford pushing forwards in search of an equaliser, but rock solid defending, organisation and a real hardworking team ethic from the Rams was keeping the Hornets out.

The Rams wrapped up the points with thirteen minutes to go, latching onto a slip-up in the Watford defence to advance clear on goal and slam the ball past Loach for his second goal in as many games.

Hulse, Tonge and Porter all made way for Davies, Anderson and Martin late on with the points in the bag, although Graham had a chance to pull a goal back for Watford late on, but Bywater saved well at close range.

Derby are back in action on Wednesday night away at Reading.

Derby County: Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Buxton, Moxey, Tonge (Anderson 80), Savage, Green, Pearson, Porter (Martin 88), Hulse (Davies 75)
Subs: Deeney, Leacock, Pringle, Sunu
Booked: Moxey
Goals: Tonge (12), Porter (78)

Watford: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury, De Merit, Cowie, Graham, Helguson (Hoskins 71), Doyley (Henderson 82), Harley (McGinn 77), Taylor, Eustace
Subs: Jenkins, Lee, Bennett, Hodson

Referee: Mr G Horwood

Attendance: 29,492 (776 away)