Watford collapse provides a reality check

As the live table updated to show The Rams in the playoff places, “Derby’s on fire!” chants bellowed from the South Stand. 

Indeed, they had been, winning five on the spin. But Edo Kayembe found an extinguisher just in time to end Watford’s 280-day winless away run. 

If anyone needed evidence of why John Eustace’s “we don’t get too high or too low” mantra matters, here it was.

After the international break allowed Rams fans a fortnight of riding high on their winning streak, a reminder that this Derby side remains a work in progress.

But, arguably, the biggest blow was not the result.

When Carlton Morris went down after being “body-checked” off the ball, the focus quickly shifted away from the match itself.

Cue clenched fists and sweaty palms. As Derby’s talisman lay on the deck, the tension was evident. Even when play resumed, most eyes were on the touchline.

Morris’ shuttle runs were being watched as intently as an Olympic sprint final. But this was not Derek Redmond. In team sport, knowing when to pass the baton is crucial. Though enforced, now was the time for Andi Weimann to come on, and for Morris’ team-mates to take up the mantle.

And in their run-away top-scorer’s absence, unlikely sources of goals stepped up.

First, what may well be the best goal Dion Sanderson has ever scored, as he arrowed a strike into the centre of the goal following blocked efforts from Ebou Adams and Bobby Clark.

Then, the inevitable, another guided missile from Joe Ward. This one was met by Sondre Langås to head home his first goal in black and white.

Set piece, again. Joe Ward, again. Goal, again.

On course for a sixth straight win, and into the top six, Derby were cruising. Watford had more possession, more expected goals, more shots on target,” as Javi Gracia would later cite.

But as John Eustace would later state, Watford had not “really cause[d] us any issues.”

Even after Luca Kjerrumgaard’s nonchalant first-time finish into the bottom-right corner, the hosts were unfazed, pushing for a third from a series of corners.

But the game changed in an instant when Joe Ward needlessly went to ground at the byline. Gavin Ward adjudged him to have fouled Nestory Irankunda and awarded a penalty.

Up would step Kayembe, not usual taker Imrân Louza, who successfully duped Jacob Widell Zetterström to tuck the ball away.

But the skipper would leave his mark at Pride Park with two minutes to play, delivering a corner towards the front post, where Kayembe headed in a dramatic winner.

In a matter of moments, another dreary trip up north became the best day out the travelling Hornets had been on in months. Their much-loved manager returning to rescue them from away-day depression.

 For Derby, fears about Morris were compounded: further reinforced by Eustace’s confirmation that his striker was “in a bad way.”

After such a remarkable turn-around, The Rams start the season’s most treacherous stretch with a hammer blow. And with David Ozoh and Lewis Travis out, alongside Rhian Brewster, who had “a slight strain” in his hamstring, the injuries are piling up again.

Though despite what Eustace called a “lack of concentration and decision making at key moments” somewhere among the disappointment was the semblance of a guide for how to cope without Morris. In front of goal at least.

As has been well-documented, Derby are not particularly strong statistically, lacking someone in the middle who really controls games. Many of their goals have come from set pieces, and the back line have certainly shown proficiency in that area. Plus, in Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, Eustace has a ready-made Morris replacement, who is also aerially strong.

The Rams may well be better off sticking with the shape and profile of striker that has served them well of late, allowing Agyemang to use his pace and power on the left, and not losing a big man in the box when defending set plays.

That is of course, if Morris’ injury is serious, which is still unknown. Either way, the fact remains that Derby are in the top half, well clear of the bottom three with five wins in their last six. Imagine hearing that after Oxford?

The Watford press rightly made a lot of the mental boost to The Hornets ending such a dire run will bring. For Derby too, mentally, this could be a big moment.

Blips, setbacks and bad days at the office are inevitable. What matters most is how teams respond to them. With a trip to a Swansea side who have won just once since September right around the corner, there is a big chance to do just that.

Goals: Sanderson 36’, Langås 54’ | Kjerrumgaard 61’, Kayembe 85 (P), 88’

Derby (3-4-2-1): Zetterström (GK); Langås (Thompson 90’), Sanderson, Clarke; Ward, Adams (C), Clark, Elder; Brereton Díaz (Jackson 70’), Agyemang (Salvesen 71’); Morris (Weimann 18’).

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK); Forsyth, Batth, Nyambe; Blackett-Taylor.

Watford (4-3-3): Baxter (GK); Ngakia, Keben, Pollock, Bola; Kayembe, Kyprianou (Semedo 65’), Louza (C); Baah (Irankunda 35’), Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 65’), Maamma (Sissoko 81’).

Unused Substitutes: Marriott (GK); Abankwah, Alleyne; Mendy, Ince.