Painful day for Rams, and Morris, as winning run is ended

CARLTON'S INJURY A BIG CONCERN AS HORNETS TAKE THE POINTS

- By LEIGH CURTIS

DERBY County's hopes of a sixth straight Championship win disappeared as Watford came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at a stunned Pride Park Stadium as the Rams’ top scorer Carlton Morris also suffered an injury.

In a cagey opening, the Rams faced the scenario they didn’t want when Morris had to be replaced by Andi Weimann.

Morris attempted to run off an injury by the dugouts but it soon became apparent he could not continue and the striker hit his head with frustration as he made his way down the tunnel.

Sondre Langas thrashed an effort over the bar after the Rams had appeals for a penalty turned away after Marc Bola appeared to handle inside the area.

The visitors’ biggest threat came from Kwadwo Baah who forced a save from Jacob Widell Zetterstrom but it was the Rams who moved ahead when Dion Sanderson thrashed a shot past Nathan Baxter after Bobby Clark's shot had rebounded to him perfectly in the area.

Weimann nearly made it two before halftime when Joe Ward’s perfectly teased cross to the back post saw him denied by the goalkeeper.

At the start of the second half, Watford went close when Nestory Irankunda flashed a shot wide of the post just to remind Derby of their presence.

But it was the Rams who went further ahead when Ward swung over a delicious free-kick for Langas to glance a header past Baxter and make it 2-0.

However, the visitors were back in the game when Luca Kjerrumgaard swept home a fine finish in the 61st minute which set up a tense final 25 minutes.

Ward forced a save from Baxter with a terrific free-kick from just outside the box as the Rams looked for a decisive third goal that surely would have killed off the visitors.

But Watford grabbed an equaliser in the dying stages when Edo Kayembe scored from the spot in the 85th minute after Ward fouled Trankunda.