Jordan Ibe has scored as table toppers Derby County lead Watford 1-0 at half time.
Ibe cut inside Fernando Forestieri after 39 minutes before curling the ball into the far corner to give Derby a deserved lead after a dominant opening 45 minutes at Vicarage Road.
The visitors were on top from the off and almost scored early on when Jeff Hendrick's shot was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who is deputising for the injured Heurelho Gomes.
However, Watford also created chances and Derby were reliant on goalkeeper Jack Butland to keep them level as both Troy Deeney and Fernando Forestieri forced him into two fine saves after a sustained period of pressure.
That pressure should have resulted in a goal just after half an hour when Deeney found Forestieri in acres of space inside the box, but the striker's hesitation allowed a desperate Craig Forsyth to get back and make a vital tackle.
Derby re-asserted their dominance and striker Chris Martin forced Bond into two fine saves, either side of Ibe's goal.
Charlie Bennett
