Stefan Schnoor squandered a golden chance to ease Jim Smith's relegation worries when he missed a second-half penalty at Vicarage Road.

The German defender saw his 71st-minute spot-kick saved after Darryl Powell had been felled, just inside the area.

It was one of the few memorable moments from a dour encounter between two teams who have spent most of the season languishing in the lower reaches of the league.

Old pals and former Lincoln team-mates Jim Smith and Graham Taylor have enjoyed successes during long and distinguished managerial careers but they brought ailing Premiership outfits to do battle at Vicarage Road.

The pair were both in need of maximum points from this basement battle and a share of the points has done little to help either of them.

Derby, with their fate in their own hands, expect to claw themselves away from the trapdoor but a lacklustre display from a team of established Premiership players reminded everyone why they have struggled this term.

Watford, meanwhile, are realistically hoping for a fighting finish to add respectability to a campaign which looks doomed to relegation.

The Hornets are staring at the ignominy of registering the Premiership's lowest ever points tally, currently held by Ipswich, with 27 points in 1994/95.

But their was little urgency about the game until the 66th-minute arrival from the bench of Heidar Helguson.

The big Icelander replaced Allan Smart and, with virtually his first touch, rose high in the penalty area to meet Micah Hyde's deep free-kick and plant a header against the foot of the post.

The 16,579 inside Vicarage Road stirred from their sun-bathing and more drama quickly followed as Schnoor fluffed Derby's penalty chance.

Robert Page, back after suspension, had abruptly halted the charge of Powell with a mistimed tackle on the edge of the penalty area.

Referee Steve Bennet pointed to the spot and booked Watford's Welsh international but Alec Chamberlain saved low to his left from the German defender.

The first-half had been instantly forgettable.

Branko Strupar fired high over the bar when well placed and Allan Smart squeezed a snap-shot wide.

David Perpetuini forced a fine low save from Mart Poom after Hyde had dropped a pinpoint pass into the path of his left-wing run but neither goalkeeper found himself over-extended before the break.

Poom back-peddled to grab a looping header from Smart and the major contribution from Georgian genius Georgi Kinkladze was to rough-up Richard Johnson as the Aussie took aim from 15 yards.

It was unfamiliar territory for Kinkladze but he chased back into his own area to challenge Johnson and the ball, as it had so often, found its way into the crowd.

Strupar, who bagged the Premiership's first goal of the 21st Century against the Hornets at Pride Park, came closest for the Rams when Chamberlain made hard work of a 25-yard daisy-cutter from the Belgian.

Helguson crashed a header against the woodwork and Schnoor missed from the spot and it was Derby who finished on top.

Powell diverted a cross from sub Malcolm Christie wide and Strupar was a foot too high with a spectacular bicycle kick, totally out of keeping with the rest of the afternoon's football.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Page, Palmer, Ward, Cox, Hyde, R. Johnson, Easton (Bonnot 73), Perpetuini, Smart (Helguson 65), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Day, Gibbs, Gudmundsson.

Booked: Page, Helguson.

Derby: Poom, Laursen, Carbonari, Schnoor, Delap, Burley, Powell, Kinkladze (Dorigo 76), Johnson, Sturridge (Christie 78), Strupar.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Elliott, Murray.

Booked: Burley.

Att: 16,579

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).