Watford survived a second-half onslaught from Derby to end their Coca-Cola Championship campaign with a victory at Vicarage Road.

Two goals from Grzegorz Rasiak plus a strike from Jobi McAnuff had taken the Hornets into the break 3-0 up and despite a spirited showing from Derby after the interval they could only grab a consolation through John Eustace.

Watford boss Brendan Rodgers made two changes to his side for the final game of the season as Gavin Hoyte replaced Mike Williamson who has had an operation and Danny Rose came in for Ross Jenkins who has a dislocated shoulder.

Nigel Clough also made two changes as Stephen Pearson replaced Martin Albrechtsen and Eustace came in for Jordan Stewart.

The Rams had the first real chance of the game as Barry Bannan unleashed a shot from 20 yards which hit the crossbar.

The Hornets came back at them though as Rasiak saw his shot parried by Stephen Bywater but the goalkeeper was beaten just over a minute later as McAnuff gave Watford the lead.

The winger stabbed home from six yards to score his third goal of the season.

Gary Teale had been the Rams' best attacking force in the first 20 minutes and it was he who had their next chance of the game when he saw his shot from 12 yards go wide of Scott Loach's right post.

But after 28 minutes the Hornets doubled their lead following a foul on Tamas Priskin by Pearson on the right wing. Rose whipped in the free-kick which Priskin headed against the crossbar but Rasiak was on hand to convert the rebound from close range.

Derby were stunned and McAnuff could have made it three shortly after as his shot from inside the box was blocked away by Paul Connolly.

Luke Varney then had a chance to put Clough's side back into it as he got a head onto a Robbie Savage cross but Loach made a comfortable save.

And four minutes before the break it was 3-0 as Rasiak netted his second after being found by Tommy Smith 12 yards out and he made no mistake.

Watford were clearly enjoying their afternoon's work and 11 minutes into the second half Priskin nearly made it four but Bywater was able to make a smart save with his feet.

Kris Commons then brought a save out of Loach before Clough made a double change with Emanuel Villa and Mark O'Brien replacing Varney and Lewin Nyatanga.

Villa had a chance to make an immediate impact but put a header from a Commons cross wide before the winger had two efforts of his own saved by Loach as the Rams poured forward.

Loach, after a quiet game so far, was all of a sudden the busiest man on the pitch as he was called on to save a header from Eustace and two more speculative efforts from Commons who was firing at will by this point.

Watford then had three chances in a minute to grab a fourth as Rasiak saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Bywater before McAnuff hit the post.

Rasiak then put another shot wide before Derby eventually got the goal their second-half dominance had merited in the 82nd minute.

Teale supplied the cross and Eustace got his head on it from 12 yards to give County some consolation.

Teams

Watford Loach, Hoyte (Hodson 65), DeMerit, Mariappa,Cork (Hoskins 89), Doyley, McAnuff, Rose (Cauna 77), Priskin,Rasiak, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Lee, Stepanov.

Booked: Doyley.

Goals: McAnuff 14, Rasiak 28, 41.

Derby Bywater, Connolly, Nyatanga (O'Brien 64), Bannan,Pearson (Dudley 84), Commons, Savage, Varney (Villa 64), Teale,Eustace, Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Price, Beardsley.

Goals: Eustace 82.

Att: 16,131

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).