Branko Strupar answered Jim Smith's millennium prayer with the first Premiership goal of the 21st century - and he went on to help Derby out of the relegation zone.

Rams boss Smith wanted his side to put the pride back in Pride Park after seeing them lose 10 out of 13 matches at home this season before today.

And £3million striker Strupar hit the target after 108 seconds to open his Rams account and set them on course for three precious Premiership points.

The Belgian international's second goal in a Derby shirt came 18 minutes from time with a delightful free-kick as Watford were condemned to another depressing defeat.

Strupar stood alone in the centre circle at the end saluting the home supporters, who gave him a standing ovation he fully deserved.

With Southampton beating Bradford 1-0 today, it means Derby are out of the bottom three for the first time in almost two months.

It is a position they occupy tonight thanks to the scoreline at The Dell and the table will make for much happier reading for Rams fans as a result.

For Watford, though, the picture is still a bleak one with last Tuesday's 3-2 defeat of Southampton already a fading memory after this setback against one of their relegation rivals.

They have now taken just five points from a possible 39 and there were few signs today that they have what it takes to get out of trouble.

Quite simply, they were the worst of two poor sides on an afternoon when it was the result and not the performance that mattered.

But the Derby fans did not care as they took to Croatian-born Strupar, who could prove to be Derby's millennium man.

He led the line well in his second start for the Midlanders, showed a keen eye for goal with his two strikes and gave Watford centre-backs Robert Page and Steve Palmer a torrid 90 minutes.

Remarkably, Strupar missed a penalty and was sent off for two bookable offences in the match Smith watched him play in for Genk - a dismissal which means he will be banned for Derby's next game, at Middlesbrough on January 15.

But 120 goals in just over five seasons in the Belgian League persuaded the Rams manager to snap him up and now he repaid a fair chunk of his transfer fee.

His opener was a fine finish, firing into the top corner from 15 yards despite slipping over as he unleashed his shot after Watford had failed to clear Rory Delap's cross.

That should have been the catalyst for a Derby goal rush but they struggled to convert another of the many chances they created.

Dean Sturridge headed against the post from three yards, Strupar and Marvin Robinson nodded wide and Craig Burley warmed goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain's palms with a fierce drive.

The second half saw little improvement for Watford whose best chance fell to Michel Ngonge inside five minutes, although the Derby defence did look rather flimsy when put under even the slightest pressure.

But Darryl Powell and Burley went close before Page was booked for flattening Robinson and Strupar made the points safe from the resulting free-kick.

His effort from 28 yards curled beyond the diving Chamberlain and just inside his left-hand post for a glorious goal.

That finished off Watford and Strupar could have completed his hat-trick in the dying stages only for his unselfishness to get the better of him and he fed Robinson, whose shot was blocked.

Powell also fired wide after good work from Burley and Watford were grateful when the final whistle came to put them out of their misery.

Teams:

Derby: Poom, Laursen, Carbonari, Elliott, Delap, Burley, Powell, Nimni (Prior 67), Dorigo (Schnoor 59), Strupar, Sturridge (Robinson 26).

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Beck.

Booked: Powell.

Goals: Strupar 2, 72.

Watford: Chamberlain, Gibbs, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Miller (Foley 73), Hyde, Johnson, Perpetuini, Gravelaine, Ngonge (Smith 73).

Subs Not Used: Lyttle, Day, Bakalli.

Booked: Page.

Att: 28,072

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).