Joao Pedro scored his second goal in three games for Watford
Joao Pedro's magnificent curling strike earned Watford victory at Derby County in a scrappy Championship encounter otherwise short on quality and incident.
An error-strewn affair, without even a shot on target until the 74th minute, was eventually decided by a real moment of class from the 19-year-old, turning on the edge of the box before bending a brilliant right-footed effort into the top corner.
Until that point neither side had done enough to justify the three points, although Watford did look the more threatening.
The Hornets probed throughout but were often let down by the final pass, while they also had strong appeals for a penalty turned down after half-time when Nathaniel Chalobah's shot appeared to strike the arm of Derby's George Evans.
- Relive Watford's win at Derby
The home team's clearest sight of goal came in the immediate aftermath of the Brazilian's opener for the visitors, with Wayne Rooney side-footing wide from just inside the area.
The former England captain also lifted a stoppage-time free-kick onto the roof of the net with goalkeeper Ben Foster sprawling across his goal, but the hosts' late flurry did little to mask an otherwise insipid display.
The result leaves the Rams still searching for a first home win of the season, while they have won just one of their seven games at Pride Park since football resumed in June.
Victory for Watford, who have now won three of their five matches following relegation from the Premier League, moves them into the play-off places.
It also ended a run of 10 games without an away win dating back to their time in the top flight.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Derby
1Marshall
12Byrne
22EvansBooked at 58mins
33Davies
16Clarke
26BuchananSubstituted forWhittakerat 86'minutes
25HolmesSubstituted forLawrenceat 64'minutes
8Bird
4ShinnieSubstituted forHector-Ingramat 80'minutes
38Knight
32Rooney
Substitutes
2Wisdom
3Forsyth
6te Wierik
10Lawrence
18Whittaker
21Roos
49Hector-Ingram
Watford
1Foster
27Kabasele
5Troost-EkongSubstituted forCathcartat 71'minutes
6WilmotBooked at 90mins
3Ngakia
8Cleverley
14Chalobah
20QuinaSubstituted forGarnerat 88'minutes
21Femenía
10João PedroSubstituted forMurrayat 86'minutes
12Sema
Substitutes
15Cathcart
16Garner
17Murray
26Bachmann
44Hungbo
47Stevenson
52Phillips
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Match Stats
Home TeamDerbyAway TeamWatford
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home9
Away8
Shots on Target
Home1
Away1
Corners
Home3
Away3
Fouls
Home10
Away10
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Derby County 0, Watford 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 0, Watford 1.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
90'+2'
Booking
Ben Wilmot (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Jason Knight (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Ben Wilmot (Watford).
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. James Garner replaces Domingos Quina.
88'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Lawrence (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88'
Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Jeremy Ngakia.
87'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Lawrence (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Bird.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Glenn Murray replaces João Pedro because of an injury.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Morgan Whittaker replaces Lee Buchanan.
80'
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Jahmal Hector-Ingram replaces Graeme Shinnie.
80'
Post update
Attempt missed. Domingos Quina (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
80'
Post update
Foul by João Pedro (Watford).
80'
Post update
Curtis Davies (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'
Post update
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Lawrence.
78'
Post update
Tom Cleverley (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78'
Post update
Foul by Jason Knight (Derby County).
76' goal
Goal!
Goal! Derby County 0, Watford 1. João Pedro (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ben Wilmot.
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Source: bbc.com