Derby new boy Paul Peschisolido netted his 100th league goal but it was not enough for the relegation-threatened Rams as efforts from Heidar Helguson and Gavin Mahon boosted Watford's own survival hopes.

Both teams started nervously with the prospect of relegation from Nationwide Division One on the minds of the two respective managers - Ray Lewington and George Burley.

Peschisolido created the first opening of the match when he caught centre-back Jerel Ifil in possession.

The Canadian star raced towards the Watford penalty area before hitting a tepid shot which drifted wide of the upright.

Watford boss Lewington has been bemoaning his side's lack of height for some time, with the Hornets becoming increasingly vulnerable from set-pieces in recent weeks.

And it proved their undoing again when the hosts' defence failed to deal with a perfectly flighted free-kick from Candido Costa, and Peschisolido pounced to slot home from inside the six-yard box.

Watford needed an instant response and it almost came from Helguson, whose towering header was tipped around the post by Rams goalkeeper Lee Grant.

But if this was a warning to Derby they did not heed it as the home side did eventually level minutes later.

Lee Cook's 15-yard bullet cannoned off the upright and Helguson was alert to pick up the rebound and fire past Grant.

Watford's tails were certainly up as they began to boss the game and they deservedly took the lead seven minutes into the second period.

Neal Ardley played the ball forward from the back to Helguson, who flicked on to Mahon and the livewire midfielder fired low beyond the despairing Grant.

It was Derby who were now beginning to look nervous at the back and 'keeper Grant had to be alert to save Micah Hyde's close-range header.

The Rams shot-stopper was by far and away the busiest man on the pitch and only finger-tip saves denied Helguson and Scott Fitzgerald as Burley's charges were in danger of becoming over-run.

The visitors' best chance of getting back into the game was going to come from a set-piece and Dave Walton managed to connect with a Paul Boertien corner, but his header flew wide.

At the other end Grant was certainly earning his stripes as another Watford effort flew goalbound - this time from Paul Devlin - but again he was able to turn the ball away.

With the clock running down Watford brought men back behind the ball to protect their lead and they held firm to earn three priceless points in the battle to avoid the drop.

Teams

Watford Pidgeley, Ardley, Dyche, Ifil, Mayo, Hyde, Mahon, Cook (Vernazza 88), Devlin, Helguson, Fitzgerald.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Dyer, Webber, Doyley.

Booked: Devlin.

Goals: Helguson 19, Mahon 53.

Derby Grant, Jackson (Holmes 85), Boertien, Kenna, Mawene, Taylor, Costa (Walton 54), Huddlestone, Osman, Peschisolido, Tudgay (Labarthe Tome 70).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Bolder.

Booked: Osman.

Goals: Peschisolido 10.

Att: 13,931

Ref: L Cable (Surrey).