3/1 To Win
Central defender George Edmundson felt Derby County did enough to earn a point from Vicarage Road against Watford - but Wayne Rooney's side fell just short in a 2-1 defeat on Friday night.
Derby found themselves two goals behind early in the game as Joao Pedro opened the scoring in the 19th minute before former Rams Academy graduate Will Hughes scored to make it 2-0 to the home side a few minutes later.
The Rams responded well and thought they had found a way back into the game as Colin Kazim-Richards headed home from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the penalty area.
Derby continued to threaten and got a goal back with just under 15 minutes of the game remaining. Nathan Byrne’s deep cross was guided into his own net by William Troost-Ekong.
The Rams applied the pressure until the last minutes of the game but unfortunately just fell short in Hertfordshire in their quest for a leveller.
Edmundson, who made his full debut for the Rams after joining on loan from Rangers earlier this month, felt Derby pushed their opponents all the way and was disappointed to lose.
“It was a tough game,” he told RamsTV. “We knew that before we came here but I thought the way we played, especially the second half, we deserved more out of the game.
“We got in at half time and we knew we just had to believe in ourselves a bit more. I thought we did that in the second half and came close.
“We have had some good chances, I probably wouldn’t say we had any clear-cut ones but a few goalmouth scrambles made them at least defend in the first half.
“We did that and got in good areas, but then we wouldn’t put the best balls in and let them off the hook. In the second half we made them defend and put some good balls into the box. To be fair to them, Watford defended it well.”
The defeat ends Derby’s two-game winning streak and is only the Rams’ second defeat in six outings.
It could have been different, however, if Kazim-Richards’ goal in the first half was given.
“We have all seen it back and Andre Wisdom just stood there and didn't do anything, but these days you can’t touch anyone without it being a foul or a free-kick, so the referee has given it and given the wrong decision in our eyes,” he said.
“Andre has not even moved, just stood like I am now. It is swings and roundabouts and I am sure we will get some decisions like that in other games.”
Edmundson has quickly settled into life at Derby following his arrival from the Scottish Premiership leaders.
“All the lads have been sound with me and the management staff have been too,” he commented. “It has been really good and I am just taking it game-by-game.”
