Vicarage Road
International
Derby County were held to a 2-0 defeat against Watford in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Luca Kjerrumgaard gave Watford the lead from inside the box in the fifth minute at Vicarage Road, and the hosts held back Derby’s attacks firmly for the majority of a physical contest.
Mamadou Doumbia then sealed the result with a late strike on the break.
The defeat is the first time in 23 games in all competitions that John Eustace’s side haven’t scored this season - and the Rams will look to bounce back when they head to Hull City on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).
The Rams started brightly in Hertfordshire and saw a chance go by when Joe Ward’s long throw in the second minute bounced across the face of the goal, inviting a connection, but goalkeeper Egil Selvik made the save.
Watford were the ones to take the lead, though, as Edo Kayembe’s strike was blocked by a sliding Matt Clarke, but the rebound fell to striker Kjerrumgaard, who hit firmly into the back of the net.
Sam Szmodics struck wide of the target with Derby’s first shot of the match, when he found space at the back post to receive a Callum Elder cross from the left. But his effort skewed across goal and wide.
Ward whipped in a teasing free kick into the box in the 15th minute, and Clarke was inches away from applying the finishing touch amongst a crowded scene on the goal line.
A battling affair saw Patrick Agyemang looking to find joy in behind, but tussles with the Hornets’ defenders couldn’t create a clear chance despite the Rams’ persistence.
A sharp attack down the left flank in the 40th minute saw Rhian Brewster find Agyemang in the box, and he looked to play in Szmodics, who appeared in space to shoot on the edge of the area, but the danger was jostled away by the defence.
Kayembe went to increase Watford's lead towards the end of the half when he attempted a shot that flew over the bar.
An effort from 20 yards saw Ward go near in the first knockings of the second period for Derby - the ball had bounced out to him in space for a right-footed effort that went just to the wrong side of the post.
Nestory Irankunda then found space at the other end of the field when he struck a powerful effort towards the near post. But the Watford winger was denied by a strong Josh Vickers save.
A spate of free-kicks for Derby again came close, with Ward’s delivery providing a potential threat once more, but without the finishing touch.
Derby made three changes on the hour mark as they chased an equaliser, Carlton Morris, Bobby Clark and Derry Murkin entered the field with Brewster, Elder and David Ozoh making way.
Murkin quickly made a defensive impact when he put in a well-timed standing challenge to thwart a surging counter-attack from the hosts.
The Rams then went down the other end, and Ben Brereton Díaz delivered a low cross into Morris that was well cleared by the Watford defence.
Brereton Díaz continued to be the threat when he carried the ball towards goal in the 70th minute as he aimed to square it to Agyemang in space to shoot, but the striker saw the ball go just out of his reach.
Morris then went under a looping cross moments later and headed on target, but the offside flag was raised.
Despite pressure in the late stages, Watford were the ones to net in the final minute of regular time to secure all three points, as Doumbia struck on the break before the full-time whistle.
Watford: Selvik (GK), Ngakia, Goglichidze (Pollock 85), Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 68), Louza (C), Mfuni, Mendy, Abankwah, Kayembe, Maamma (Chakvetadze 24), Irankunda (Baah 68 (Bola 85)).
Unused Substitutes: Baxter (GK), Ince, Bove, Ekwah.
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Clarke, Agyemang, Brewster (Morris 61), Ozoh (Clark 61), Szmodics, Elder (Murkin 61), Ward, Brereton Díaz (Fraulo 78), Travis (C) (Allen 90+1), Sanderson.
Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Fraulo, Eames, I Gordon.
A fast turnaround in the schedule sees the Rams back out on the road to face Hull City at the MKM Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).
