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Derby took the lead three times at Watford as they recorded their second successive Championship victory under new manager Steve McClaren.

The match got off to a pulsating start with both sides scoring inside the opening 12 minutes, Fernando Forestieri equalising after Jamie Ward’s opener.

The best aspect of this season thus far from our point of view has been the entertainment value.  Twelve league games in, plus three in the League Cup… how many have been anything less than gripping?  (Even if, admittedly, some of that excitement has been our own doing in situations where you’d prefer dull defensive competence).  The opening fifteen minutes or so here were suitably mundane…  Derby’s notorious vulnerability at corners was manifest and Essaid Belkalem ghosted in (or as close as a monstrous Algerian can get to “ghosting”) at the far post.  He should have scored.  Two minutes later and Jamie Ward, half Belkalem’s size and with what looked a tougher heading chance, outjumped his marker to put the Rams ahead from Bryson’s brilliant cross.  Another five minutes and Fernando’s levelled it again with a gorgeous dink.  Same old, same old.