Hornets ease past Rams

Watford cemented their 6th place position in the league with a comfortable win over Derby County. The Hornets made four changes from their cup win over Hartlepool with Loach, McGinn, Cowie and Graham replacing Gilmartin, Mingoia, Whichelow and Deeney.

Watford had the better of the early chances as Stephen McGinn had a volley spectacularly blocked following a corner. Watford went even closer to opening the scoring after 20 minutes when Don Cowie’s shot was saved and Marvin Sordell’s follow up was brilliantly blocked again.

Derby County carved out their only chance of the game when Dale Bennett and Scott Loach got in a tangle with Bennett just able to recover and nick the ball of Chris Porter with the striker about to roll the ball into the empty net.

Watford took the lead with 10 minutes to go before half time when Lloyd Doyley and Danny Graham broke down the left crossing for Will Buckley to hit home at the far post.

Watford doubled their lead just before the break when a move down the right saw Will Buckley played in and he crossed for Danny Graham to volley superbly home.

Watford moved the game out of sight in first half stoppage time thanks to the Derby defence. John Brayford misjudged a long clearance from Dale Bennett and Marvin Sordell raced clear to slot home.

The second half really turned into a non event with Watford happy to sit on their lead and Derby unable to break into the Watford box.

The only chances of not were Matt Whichelow and Stephen McGinn’s long range shots that went just wide of the posts, as Watford continued their run to seven wins in a row and nine unbeaten.