Derby were made to pay for missed chances as Watford enjoyed a rare away success in the Championship with a 2-0 win at Pride Park.
The home side were left ruing their bad luck after hitting the woodwork three times on a day when little went right for them.
Watford took an early lead through Imran Louza, who scored for the first time in almost a year, and sealed only a third away win of the season when Edo Kayembe finished off a counter-attack.
Derby had opportunities but could not take them and boos rang out after a defeat which left them only one point above the relegation zone.
Both teams had not won since Boxing Day and Watford were fortunate not to go down to 10 men when debutant James Abankwah escaped with a yellow card for a wild challenge on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
The Hornets stung Derby again in the fourth minute when Kwadwo Baah surged down the right and his low cross fell to Louza who beat Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from 12 yards.
Watford had more success down the Derby left with Abankwah making a strong run and pulling the ball back into a dangerous area but Jeremy Ngakia scuffed his shot wide.
Derby had a good chance to draw level in the 21st minute after a quick free-kick found Mendez-Laing who picked out Eiran Cashin but the defender completely missed his kick.
Watford had a double escape in the 41st minute when Mendez-Laing rattled the bar and Kayden Jackson smashed an overhead kick against the woodwork with Jonathan Bond beaten.
Bond tipped over a Cashin header as Derby enjoyed their best period of the half and the goalkeeper made an even better save at the start of the second by turning behind a Mendez-Laing drive.
Derby hit the woodwork for a third time in the 51st minute with Ebou Adams striking Bond’s right post and the midfielder went close again when Watford were caught on the break.
It was Watford’s turn to be denied when Moussa Sissoko’s drive came back off the bar and went behind off Zetterstrom for a corner.
But the visitors doubled their advantage in the 66th minute following a swift break that ended with Kayembe firing into the bottom corner after Sissoko played him in.
Derby were caught again minutes later but this time Zetterstrom made a good save to deny Baah although the damage had already been done with the Rams looking anxiously over their shoulders after a fourth straight league defeat.
