Watford 2-1 Derby County: Will Hughes scores in opposition to outdated membership as Hornets win – BBC Information

Will Hughes scored in opposition to his outdated membership as Watford beat Derby to maneuver third and degree on factors with second-placed Brentford within the Championship.

Brazilian ahead Pedro didn’t know a lot about his eighth aim of the season because the ball was flicked onto him by Derby defender Andre Knowledge and previous David Marshall after an incredible flip of tempo and cutback by Ismaila Sarr.

Colin Kazim-Richards noticed a first-half header controversially disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper by Derby team-mate Knowledge and Wayne Rooney’s guests fell quick regardless of William Troost-Ekong’s personal aim giving them late hope.

A 3rd win in a row sees Watford leapfrog Swansea and transfer to inside 4 factors of leaders Norwich, who host Rotherham on Saturday, whereas Derby’s six-point buffer over the underside three could possibly be decreased to 3 factors after Saturday’s video games.

Rooney handed first begins to deadline day signings Patrick Roberts and George Edmundson however after a low-key begin to the sport Watford profited from a slice of luck after which gave themselves a cushion.

Hughes’ aim – his eighth in 104 appearances since his £8m transfer from Pleasure Park – got here after Derby did not adequately clear a nook, and Nathaniel Chalobah backheeled the ball into his path for him to take a contact and calmly end.

The 25-year-old’s celebrations have been muted, having come by the Rams’ academy, however he caught the attention all through along with his vary of passing – his inch-perfect ball excessive within the second half volleyed into the arms of Marshall by Pedro.

Knowledge was adjudged to have blocked Hornets keeper Daniel Bachmann as Kazim-Richards headed dwelling a nook, a choice which appeared gentle, however Derby struggled to create openings till Nathan Byrne’s advantageous cross bounced up onto Troost-Ekong and into his personal aim with 13 minutes remaining.

Replays confirmed Kazim-Richards was marginally offside because the cross got here in but it surely didn’t alter the consequence, with Watford registering a league-high twelfth dwelling win of the marketing campaign regardless of having to cope with a flurry of corners in stoppage time.

Watford head coach Xisco Munoz:

“It was a superb first half, we performed excellently. Within the second half once they scored they gave us difficulties till the final minute but it surely was a superb efficiency.

“We are able to play higher, that is for certain, however we have now a superb spirit. Now it is very important have a superb restoration as a result of we have to proceed.

“It was troublesome once I arrived as a result of we’d have been 12 factors behind if we had misplaced in opposition to Norwich, however everybody has labored arduous and performed with ardour. I really feel very pleased with everybody.”

Derby supervisor Wayne Rooney instructed BBC Radio Derby:

“We conceded two very sloppy targets and I believe our response to conceding the aim must be higher – we misplaced our focus and focus and that is price us in the long run.

“Second half we confirmed an incredible response – I assumed we dominated the second half and on one other day may’ve obtained one thing out of the sport.

On the disallowed aim: “It is clear for everybody to see that it was a wonderfully good aim and I nonetheless do not know why it has been disallowed, perhaps the keeper was getting a bit an excessive amount of safety, however these items occur.”