Source: Team_Talk
Super sub Porter nets Rams winner
Nigel Clough's side last won on the road back in April while Watford were looking for a fifth straight home win.[LNB]But Porter, making only his second appearance since recovering from a long-term injury, climbed off the bench to rip up the form book with a second-half header.[LNB]The Hornets, by contrast, put in a strangely subdued performance although Tom Cleverly and John Eustace came close to finding the net.[LNB]Despite their wretched away form, Derby created the early openings with Lee Hendrie seeing a shot cleared by Adrian Mariappa and Paul Connolly heading over the top.[LNB]However, the visitors were almost undone by an error from goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, who sliced a clearance straight to Danny Graham.[LNB]The striker took aim from 40 yards out as Bywater hastily back-pedalled but the ball drifted just wide.[LNB]Watford looked a shadow of the side which impressively swept past QPR 3-1 on Monday night and DJ Campbell almost made them pay for some dozy defending when he got in behind, but Scott Loach made the save.[LNB]But in first-half stoppage time the hosts almost snatched the lead, Heidar Helguson shooting through a sea of legs from a corner only to be denied by Bywater.[LNB]Just after the break a half-cleared ball fell to Campbell, who controlled it well on his knee but blazed his shot over the crossbar.[LNB]Dean Moxey then drilled a tempting cross into the area but not one of Campbell, Paul Dickov or Paul Green could apply the crucial touch.[LNB]Campbell was surprisingly taken off by Clough with half an hour to go - but it was to prove an inspired substitution.[LNB]Watford's Manchester United loanee Cleverley provided a rare moment of quality with a smart turn and shot which Bywater saved low to his left.[LNB]But when the goal finally arrived it went to the visitors, after Mariappa had fouled Porter.[LNB]Hendrie swung in the free-kick and Porter got ahead of his marker to nod the ball past Loach.[LNB]Eustace was inches away from an immediate leveller when his shot fizzed over and Don Cowie also drove too high as Derby held out.[LNB][LNB]
