Watford ended a run of seven Championship games without victory by beating play-off rivals Derby County.

Luca Kjerrumgaard gave the hosts an early lead at Vicarage Road, reacting quickest to convert from close range after Othmane Maamma's low cross caused confusion in the Rams box.

Derby enjoyed decent spells of possession but failed to register a shot on target before the break.

Watford had chances to extend their lead after the interval through Nestory Irankunda twice, but it was substitute Mamadou Doumbia that sealed the win late on to give boss Ed Still victory in his first home game.

The Hornets' victory was a response to last weekend's 2-2 draw at Preston, after which Still said he was "disappointed for the dressing room" having seen his side surrender a lead to leave Lancashire with a point.

The first decisive moment against the Rams came in the fifth minute when Maamma - who had to come off injured midway through the first half - beat Joe Ward down the left and drilled in a low cross, with the initial effort blocked before on-loan Udinese striker Kjerrumgaard pounced to fire past Derby keeper Josh Vickers.

Although the Rams enjoyed more of the ball, Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik was largely untroubled.

Unlike last weekend, Watford closed out the game more effectively, limiting Derby to half-chances with Doumbia sliding in a breakaway goal following a corner from the visitor in the 90th minute.

The result lifts Watford into ninth while Derby drop to eighth in the table with both sides three points outside the play-off places.

Remarkably it was Watford's sixth win in a row against the Rams, with former Hornets captain John Eustace yet to beat his old side.

Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It was to be able to start the game in the way that we did, to be able to score early and not step back too much after that.

"There was a phase in the first half where we were maybe a little bit too passive, but we managed to keep stepping forwards.

"Everybody had to make changes early in the game [after Giorgi Chakvetadze came on for injured Maamma], but seeing that the subs who came on stuck to the game plan was also great to see.

"It was special to be able to give the fans something to cheer about. We felt the energy and the support from kick-off all the way to the end so to be able to send everyone home happy and hopeful for the coming weeks is great."

Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"Very disappointed. There's not many games this season where I've felt the opposition have wanted it a bit more than us, and today they certainly wanted it more than us, which isn't what we're all about.

"I think that's why it's important in the Championship, there's always opportunities or moments that kick you and reset you.

"Obviously going into the top six last week, we're playing against teams now who want to get into that top six week in, week out, and we're playing against teams who want to stay in this league as well.

"If we're not at the levels required to compete, then we're going to get hurt like we did today."