It's a simple catch for Derby keeper David Marshall in the end but that was a gorgeous through ball from Will Hughes.

The Watford midfielder is given time to get his head up and plays the ball over the head of Andre Wisdom to Joao Pedro, who volleys the ball towards goal but it lacks the power to trouble Marshall.

Watford have been much more successful at pressuring their opponents into giving the ball away, and that trend has continued since the break.

Joao Pedro is stretching the Derby defence and it can't be long until Wayne Rooney looks to his bench.

No notable changes to the shape of either side.

Watford are able to beat the Derby press easily but Ismaila Sarr overruns the ball on the right and the ball is out for a goal kick.

We're back under way at Vicarage Road.

Watford are going level on points with second-placed Brentford as it stands, but what does Derby boss Wayne Rooney have up his sleeve to change things?

Image source, Rex Features

The other 22 teams in the Championship all play on Saturday with strugglers Coventry at home to second-placed Brentford, who have surprisingly lost two in a row after a 21-game unbeaten league run.

The pick of the 15:00 GMT games comes at Hillsborough, where third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday host a horrendous out-of-form Birmingham side who are below them on goal difference.

Kick-offs at 15:00 GMT unless stated:

• Coventry v Brentford (12:30 GMT)
• Bristol City v Barnsley
• Cardiff v Preston
• Huddersfield v Swansea
• Millwall v Wycombe
• Norwich v Rotherham
• Nottm Forest v Blackburn
• QPR v Bournemouth
• Reading v Middlesbrough
• Sheff Wed v Birmingham
• Stoke v Luton

There's a big day to come in the EFL on Saturday, and we'll have it all covered...

The Big Show: We need more consistency if we are to go up...and to keep our manager for more than a season too...

Watford do have some track record when it comes to sacking managers. Is it 158 they've gone through in the past decade?

Image source, Getty Images

And that's the interval.

Two Watford goals in three minutes shook this game up, with Joao Pedro opening the scoring and then Will Hughes getting the other against his former club.

Wayne Rooney thought his Derby side had pulled one back but Colin Kazim-Richards' header was chalked off for a foul.

Derby plonk a corner right on top of Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann but he deals with it much better this time, catching the ball confidently.

We're into two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

Left-back Lee Buchanan is next in the book - the first Derby player to be cautioned.

It's for a challenge from behind on Tom Cleverley.

Buchanan now has to deal with Watford forward Ismaila Sarr with no margin for error.

That'll give Derby some encouragement, though.

We know they've loved a corner routine under Wayne Rooney and it might be their best chance against a Watford side who have been on the ball more.

Meanwhile, Tom Cleverley is booked for the hosts for a strong challenge on Jason Knight. Too strong.

Colin Kazim-Richards heads in for Derby from a corner but it's ruled out as Andre Wisdom is blocking Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann.

Moments earlier Bachmann had a nervy moment, punching a Derby cross over his own bar.

Was there a lot in it? Not really. Wisdom just had to be a bit more discreet, perhaps.

No Troy Deeney, no problem so far for Watford.

Their talisman is out with an Achilles injury but they've been free-flowing in his absence.

Deeney's leadership qualities are perhaps missed more when the going gets tough, however.

Eddy Canfur-Dumas: Speaking as a Watford season-ticket holder, I expect them to finish third and then lose the play-off final. Just saying.

Well, they're going third as things stand Eddy. Just below second-placed Brentford on goal difference.

Image source, Getty Images

Martyn Waghorn picks up the ball in space on the left but his cross is far too long for Derby striker Colin Kazim-Richards.

It has to be better.

Derby look dispirited and as if they're already waiting for half-time.

The home side must think they can kill the game off by then.

Will Hughes came through Derby's academy and made 187 appearances for the club before joining Watford in 2017.

This is the first time he's come up against his old side and of course he scores a rare goal.

There was no celebration from Hughes - showing total respect for the travelling fans(!)

Image source, Getty Images

Watford right-back Kiko Femenia played a key part in their first goal and whips in a beautiful cross that just evades Nathaniel Chalobah and Joao Pedro in the middle.

What do you make of that quickfire double for Watford? Are they heading straight back up to the Premier League.

Get in touch with your thoughts on the game using #bbcefl on Twitter.