Watford’s Scottish manager was left fuming after Dean Leacock stayed on the pitch despite being the last man when he brought down Danny Graham. Graham had turned Leacock and with only the keeper to beat, was brought down two minutes before half-time.
Had Derby been reduced to ten men Watford would have had a fighting chance, but they were already 2-0. Defender John Brayford started the rout in the 14th minute when he got ahead of the Taylors (Andrew and Martin) before smashing the ball into the top of the net. The second came in the 36th minute when Tomasz Cywka got his first of the game when his shot deflected off on-loan Jordan Mutch past a stranded Scott Loach into the net.
Watford’s first real chance came from on-form Sordell who had a good short but the highly rated Frank Fielding saved. Following the controversial decision not to send Leacock off Mackay sent on re-enforcements.
Troy Deeney and Mathew Whichelow came on looking hungry; Deeney who is keen to get a run in the starting eleven looked very lively. In the 55th minute ex-academy player Whichelow ran onto Stephen McGinn’s pass before chipping Fielding who had come to the edge of the box.
Just as Watford were looking like they could get back into the game Paul Green put in a cross in the 65th minute which found the ever reliable Shefki Kuqui who controlled the ball before slotting home. Mackay will be asking wondering what happened to his defence whose poor defending let Kuqui get the shot in.
Cywka scored his second of the game when he beat Andrew Taylor and drove the ball past Loach in 81st minute to condemn the Golden Boys to a miserable afternoon on the road.
Whilst Watford had some good spells the Hertfordshire were second best for a lot of the game. Next up is a tricky tie against Forest next Saturday.