An own goal by Watford of England defender, William Troost-Ekong did not derail his team’s from going down the path to victory on Saturday, as The Hornets recovered well to snatch maximum points against Wayne Rooney’s visiting Derby County.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, with Troost-Ekong also recovering well to put in a commendable shift at Vicarage Road, Watford moved level on points with second-placed Brentford as they held off a late fight-back from Derby to win 2-1.
Rooney’s Rams made a confident start but the hosts took the lead when Joao Pedro flicked the ball past David Marshall, before Will Hughes added a quickfire second in his first game against his former employers after leaving Pride Park in 2017.
Troost-Ekong, who previously played for Tottenhamm Hotspur of England’s youth team as well as Haugesund of Norway, Dordrecht of Holland, Bursaspor of Turkey, AA Gent of Belgium and Udinese of Italy before joining Watford, turned Nathan Byrne’s cross into his own net in the 77th minute.
That reduced the deficit late on, before Byrne’s corner inside the final 10 minutes was kept out by a combination of the woodwork and goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann, though they could not find an equaliser.
Xisco Munoz’s team are now four points behind leaders Norwich after their third straight win without conceding, though they have played a game more, while Derby stay 17th, six points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Though Andre Wisdom’s last-gasp winner against Wycombe in midweek gave Derby a fifth win in six, Rooney rang the changes in search of an improved performance at Vicarage Road, with Byrne among five players to return to the starting line-up in Hertfordshire.
It would be harsh to say the hosts rested on their laurels, though they did pass up opportunities to extend their advantage after the break, most notably when Sarr ghosted in off the right, opted for power over placement and skewed wide.
Derby pulled a goal back when a teasing cross was turned into the roof of his own net by Troost-Ekong inside the final 15 minutes and the fact Bachmann mouthed ‘wow’ after he kept out Byrne’s corner at the near post illustrated how close the visitors were to finding the equaliser late on.
