Pride Park Stadium
Derby County tasted defeat in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in over a month with a 3-2 reverse at home to Watford.
The Rams’ first action following the two-week international break saw them kick-off a run of three matches inside eight days on home territory.
Defender Dion Sanderson’s first goal in a Derby shirt, a stunning half-volley after the ball fell inviting into his path inside the penalty area, opened the scoring at a rain-soaked Pride Park Stadium after 36 minutes.
Norwegian international defender Sondre Langås netted his first Derby goal early in the second half to make it 2-0, but the Hornets came back strongly.
Watford pulled a goal back just after the hour-mark through Luca Kjerrumgaard’s first-time finish to set up a more tense final 30 minutes and Edo Kayembe’s penalty five minutes from the final whistle made it 2-2.
The winner came a few minutes later as Kayembe headed home a corner to seal the victory for the visitors and end Derby's five-game winning streak.
The visitors made a lively start at Pride Park, with Kayembe threatening inside the opening minutes. A loose ball dropped to the midfielder on the edge of the area and he connected sweetly, only for Sanderson to intervene with a crucial touch to divert it over the bar.
Derby were dealt an early blow inside the opening 15 minutes when talisman Carlton Morris landed awkwardly following a challenge. The frontman, with 10 goals to his name already this term, initially looked determined to play on, but was eventually forced off and replaced by Andi Weimann.
Watford soon carved out another opportunity, as captain Imran Louza delivered a dangerous corner to the far post, finding Marc Bola in space. The defender met it first time but could only drive his effort into the side netting.
Derby appeals for a handball penalty were waved away in the 20th minute after Patrick Agyemang’s header struck the upper body of a Watford defender. The loose ball fell to Langås on the right, who fizzed an effort narrowly wide.
Kwadwo Baah then surged forward on a powerful run before unleashing a strike towards goal, but Jacob Widell Zetterström reacted brilliantly, springing low to his left to produce an outstanding reflex save.
The Rams finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a stunning effort from Sanderson. Bobby Clark's shot ricocheted off Kévin Keben’s chest and into Sanderson’s path and the 25-year-old made no mistake, thundering a first-time strike into the roof of the net to give Derby the lead.
Othmane Maamma then broke forward in search of a response, as the Hornets threatened in numbers, but a mistimed recovery challenge from Sanderson halted the attack. The defender was shown a yellow card by referee Gavin Ward.
John Eustace’s side almost doubled their advantage on the cusp of half-time. A quickly taken free-kick from Sanderson released Joe Ward down the right, and his floated cross found substitute Weimann at the back post. The forward rose highest to head goalwards, but Baxter reacted sharply, tipping the effort away with his fingertip to keep Watford one goal behind heading into the break, following a chaotic first period.
As the second half got underway, Watford substitute Nestory Irankunda almost brought the visitors level. The Australia international burst down the right with a dazzling run, only to drag a low shot across goal that rolled narrowly wide.
Derby made the Hornets rue that missed chance just minutes later, doubling their lead in the 54th minute through Langås. Ward delivered a pinpoint free-kick from the right, and the Norwegian met it with a fine header into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.
Eustace’s side continued to turn the screw after their second. Agyemang chased a lofted ball forward and looked to have beaten Mattie Pollock in a foot race, but the referee adjudged he had pulled down the Watford defender in the process.
Despite Derby pressure, Watford clawed their way back into the contest on the hour mark. A dangerous cross from the right found Kjerrumgaard, who produced an excellent finish to halve the deficit.
The Rams pushed to regain their two-goal cushion, earning a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Ward stepped up and unleashed a powerful strike, but Baxter reacted brilliantly once again to tip the effort away with an outstanding save.
There was then nearly an immediate impact from substitutes Lars-Jørgen Salvesen and Kayden Jackson. Weimann’s delivery to the back post looked destined for one of the pair, but a Hornets defender intervened to clear for a corner.
In the 85th minute, Watford were handed a lifeline. Irankunda drove into the box from the left before going down under a challenge from Ward, and after a moment of deliberation, referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot. Kayembe made no mistake, rifling his penalty into the top-left corner and sending Zetterström the wrong way to level the score.
With momentum on their side, Javi Gracia’s men pushed for a late winner, and found it in the 88th minute. Louza curled in an in-swinging corner, and Kayembe rose highest to nod the ball into the far corner, securing his second of the afternoon and completing a dramatic late turnaround to deny Derby a sixth consecutive victory and bring an end to their recent unbeaten run at Pride Park.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Clarke, Langås (Thompson 90) , Agyemang (Salvesen 70), Morris (Weimann 17), Elder, Ward, Brereton Díaz (Jackson 70), Sanderson, Adams (C), Clark.
Unused substitutes: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Blackett-Taylor, Nyambe.
Watford: Baxter (GK), Ngakia, Keben, Kyprianou (Semedo 65), Pollock, Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 65), Louza (C), Bola, Baah (Irankunda 34), Kayembe, Maamma (Sissoko 81).
Unused substitutes: Marriott (GK), Alleyne, Ince, N. Mendy, Abankwah.
29,442 (including 2,374 Watford supporters).
The Rams will return to Sky Bet Championship action on Tuesday evening, as they travel west to the Swansea.com Stadium to take on Swansea City under the floodlights (7:45pm kick-off).
Words: Ella Barber.
