Watford fans may be feeling a sense of déjà vu at half time against Derby County. Once again, in key Championship promotion clash, the Hornets are playing with ten men. They are, however, level at the interval.

Matej Vydra fired the Golden Boys in front midway through the opening period but, just before half time, Marco Motta was dismissed for a foul on Johnny Russell.

The wing-back was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and Darren Bent fired his penalty home.

There were two changes to the Watford side which started the defeat against Ipswich Town. In came Gabriele Angella for the injured Joel Ekstrand in defence while Vydra replaced Daniel Tozser.

The Hornets started in a 4-3-1-2 system. The back four consisted of Motta, Craig Cathcart, Angella and Tommie Hoban while Adlene Guedioura, Ben Watson and Miguel Layun made up the midfield trio.

Vydra, Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney were a fluid front three and often swapped roles throughout the half.

The Rams started at a frantic tempo. They pressed the Hornets high up the pitch and attempted to utilise space in the wide areas.

They created the first clear chance. A Derby corner was well worked to Tom Ince on the byline and his cut-back found Bent four yards out.

It looked a certain goal but the striker fired straight at Heurelho Gomes and the ball bounced off the Brazilian and wide.

Watford weathered the early Derby onslaught and began to gain possession in midfield. And, 23 minutes into the contest, the Golden Boys went in front.

Vydra won back possession in the Rams’ defensive third and played a pass to Ighalo. The Nigerian lost the ball but closed down Richard Keogh.

The defender’s clearance struck the Nigerian forward and bounced into the path of Vydra. The Czech Republic international didn’t hesitate and fired his shot into the corner of Lee Grant’s goal.

The goal may have had a slice of fortune but there was no questioning the quality of Vydra’s finish.

Derby’s fans became anxious but their players continued to move the ball around the pitch.

They came close an equaliser as Will Hughes cut inside onto his left foot and whipped a shot just past Gomes’ post from 20 yards.

Guedioura then came close to adding a Watford second when he powered into the Rams box but his low shot was pushed away by Grant.

And then, on the stroke of half time, the Hornets didn’t defend a Derby throw-in and the consequences were disastrous.

The Rams moved the ball from the left and found a gap in the Watford backline. Johnny Russell received the ball but was felled by Motta.

A penalty was rightly awarded, it was a poor tackle. Kevin Friend decided the challenge was denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and the Italian was dismissed.

Bent stepped up and thumped the spot kick past Gomes to send the two sides in level at half time.

Derby County: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Thorne (Hendrick 29), Hughes, Bryson; Ince, Russell, Bent.

Derby County substitutes: Roos, Albentosa, Warnock, Ward, Lingard, Martin.

Watford: Gomes; Motta, Cathcart, Angella, Hoban; Layun, Watson, Guedioura; Ighalo; Deeney, Vydra.

Watford substitutes: Munari, Tozser, Doyley, Pudil, Anya, Connolly.