Watford secured their fourth away win of the season with a 2-1 win over Derby.

Alex Kacaniklic assisted both goals, making the first for Sean Murray, who had a simple finish from 12 yards.

Kacaniklic drove at Derby's defence again and found Troy Deeney, whose deflected effort flew in.

Derby gave themselves hope when Ben Davies' free-kick missed everyone before bouncing in - but were unable to find a leveller in the second half.

The Rams face a resurgent Nottingham Forest in the east Midlands derby on Tuesday - but faced an uphill task after just eight minutes when Murray scored his second goal in the space of four days.

He side-footed in from after Kacaniklic had scampered down the left and clipped the ball into the box.

Kacaniklic, on loan from Fulham, was enjoying a fruitful spell down the left flank and he cut inside before firing inches wide moments later.

Sean Dyche's side did not have to wait long for the second goal and Kacaniklic was again at the heart of the move as the Hornets doubled their advantage.

Barker let the ball slip under his foot in the middle of the pitch and Kacaniklic pounced, using his pace to break free before squaring for Troy Deeney, whose deflected effort flew into the top corner.

The Pride Park faithful were silenced following Watford's electric start, but they came to life when Ben Davies' free-kick halved the deficit in the 31st minute.

Murray's foul on Jason Shackell gave Davies the opportunity to float in a delivery, which narrowly evaded the top of Steve Davies' head, before bouncing into the far corner.

Watford goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak was forced into crucial late saves, including a brilliant stop from Craig Bryson's volley. Adrian Mariappa produced a goal-line clearance to deny James Bailey as Watford held on.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Derby County

  • 01 Fielding
  • 05 Barker
  • 06 Shackell
  • 17 Buxton
  • 04 Bryson
  • 18 B Davies (Ball - 75' )
  • 19 Carroll (Tyson - 46' )
  • 23 Hendrick (Bailey - 88' )
  • 32 Green Booked
  • 07 S Davies
  • 21 Robinson

Substitutes

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 31 Naylor
  • 16 Bailey
  • 09 Tyson
  • 25 Ball

Watford

  • 35 Kuszczak
  • 03 Dickinson Booked
  • 06 Mariappa Booked
  • 12 Doyley
  • 33 Nosworthy
  • 04 Eustace
  • 18 Kacaniklic
  • 22 Murray (Buaben - 81' )
  • 32 Hogg
  • 09 Deeney (Taylor - 90' )
  • 25 Garner (Iwelumo - 62' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Loach
  • 05 Taylor
  • 19 Buaben
  • 10 Iwelumo
  • 20 Trotta
Ref: Mathieson
Att: 23,130

Match Stats

Shots

9 7

On target

5 3

Corners

7 3

Fouls

10 20

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:04 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:28

Short corner worked by Alex Kacaniklic.

90:00 +2:49

Nathan Tyson delivers the ball.

90:00 +2:06

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Nathan Tyson from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Adrian Mariappa.

90:00 +1:47

James Bailey takes a shot. Adrian Mariappa gets a block in.

90:00 +0:36

Direct free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

90:00 +0:36 Substitution

Substitution Troy Deeney goes off and Martin Taylor comes on.

90:00 +0:36

Nyron Nosworthy fouled by Steve Davies, the ref awards a free kick.

87:55 Substitution

Substitution James Bailey comes on in place of Jeff Hendrick.

87:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jason Shackell by Prince Buaben. Direct free kick taken by Frank Fielding.

86:19

Prince Buaben takes the free kick.

86:19 Booking

Booking Paul Green goes into the referee's book.

86:06

Foul by Paul Green on Alex Kacaniklic, free kick awarded.

85:20

Craig Bryson has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

83:39 Booking

Booking Adrian Mariappa is cautioned.

82:49

Alex Kacaniklic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Green. Frank Fielding takes the free kick.

81:48

Chris Iwelumo concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Bryson. Jason Shackell produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Nathan Tyson misses to the left of the target.

81:21

Foul by Lloyd Doyley on Nathan Tyson, free kick awarded. Jason Shackell restarts play with the free kick.

80:17 Substitution

Substitution Prince Buaben replaces Sean Murray.

80:17

Callum Ball has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

78:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Bryson by Troy Deeney. Free kick taken by Paul Green.

75:53

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Steve Davies.

74:53 Substitution

Substitution Callum Ball joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ben Davies.

73:19

Foul by Troy Deeney on Jason Shackell, free kick awarded. Frank Fielding takes the free kick.

70:00

Jonathan Hogg concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Tyson. Direct free kick taken by Ben Davies.

69:28

Corner taken by Ben Davies from the right by-line, clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.

69:02

John Eustace challenges Jeff Hendrick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jeff Hendrick takes the free kick.

68:28 Booking

Booking Carl Dickinson receives a caution for time wasting.

66:20

Alex Kacaniklic fouled by Jeff Hendrick, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sean Murray.

65:35

Theo Robinson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick.

65:00

Centre by Ben Davies, Shaun Barker takes a shot. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

64:24

Ben Davies takes the outswinging corner, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.

62:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nyron Nosworthy by Steve Davies. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick.

61:50 Substitution

Substitution Chris Iwelumo replaces Joe Garner.

55:51

Unfair challenge on Carl Dickinson by Ben Davies results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

54:15

Jeff Hendrick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Garner. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

52:18

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Davies from the left by-line, Headed effort on goal by Shaun Barker from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

51:53

Sean Murray challenges Craig Bryson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jeff Hendrick restarts play with the free kick.

50:54

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Tyson by Lloyd Doyley. Direct free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

50:14

Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Sean Murray goes wide of the right-hand upright.

49:21

Steve Davies challenges Nyron Nosworthy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

48:55

Troy Deeney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shaun Barker. Frank Fielding takes the direct free kick.

48:15

Effort on goal by Alex Kacaniklic from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

47:54

Carl Dickinson sends in a cross, Jake Buxton manages to make a clearance.

46:27

Nathan Tyson sends in a cross, Adrian Mariappa makes a clearance.

45:17

Sean Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jason Shackell. Jake Buxton takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Tyson replaces Tom Carroll.

45:00 +2:54 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +2:09

Foul by Carl Dickinson on Steve Davies, free kick awarded. Ben Davies restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +0:24

Ben Davies fouled by Nyron Nosworthy, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Davies fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Tomasz Kuszczak makes a comfortable save.

42:32

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Sean Murray.

37:32

The offside flag is raised against Theo Robinson. Free kick taken by Nyron Nosworthy.

34:20

Troy Deeney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hendrick. Free kick taken by Jeff Hendrick.

33:55

Unfair challenge on Craig Bryson by Alex Kacaniklic results in a free kick. Ben Davies takes the direct free kick.

33:33

Outswinging corner taken by Alex Kacaniklic from the left by-line, clearance by Jason Shackell.

30:11 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Davies - Derby 1 - 2 Watford Ben Davies grabs a goal from long distance to the top right corner of the goal. Derby 1-2 Watford.

30:00

Unfair challenge on Jason Shackell by Sean Murray results in a free kick. Ben Davies delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing,

28:58

Unfair challenge on Adrian Mariappa by Theo Robinson results in a free kick. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the direct free kick.

27:56

Sean Murray has a shot and missed to the right of the target.

26:21

A cross is delivered by Theo Robinson, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

22:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sean Murray on Jason Shackell. Jason Shackell restarts play with the free kick.

20:51

Jonathan Hogg takes a shot. Jake Buxton gets a block in.

19:38

Steve Davies takes a shot. Comfortable save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

18:51

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Davies from the left by-line, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

17:40

Inswinging corner taken by Ben Davies, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

14:40

Assist by Alex Kacaniklic.

14:40 Goal scored

Goal - Troy Deeney - Derby 0 - 2 Watford Goal scored by Troy Deeney from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Derby 0-2 Watford.

11:25

Steve Davies fouled by Jonathan Hogg, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Shackell takes the free kick.

9:10

Alex Kacaniklic produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

7:55

Alex Kacaniklic provided the assist for the goal.

7:55 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Murray - Derby 0 - 1 Watford Sean Murray gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 0-1 Watford.

7:40

The ball is delivered by Sean Murray, Shaun Barker makes a clearance.

6:09

Theo Robinson takes a shot. Adrian Mariappa manages to make a clearance.

3:44

Steve Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Carl Dickinson. Carl Dickinson takes the free kick.

3:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steve Davies by Adrian Mariappa. Free kick taken by Jeff Hendrick.

2:05

Unfair challenge on Adrian Mariappa by Theo Robinson results in a free kick. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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