'We have to learn from our mistakes and do better' - John Eustace delivers his verdict as Derby County chuck the win away against Watford
Boss John Eustace wants his Derby County players to learn from their mistakes following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Watford.
The Rams were cruising at 2-0 up following goals from Dion Sanderson and Sondre Langas either side of half-time.
But the home side switched off and allowed Luca Kjerrumgaard to pull one back just after the hour.
It led to an unlikely collapse with Edo Kayembe scoring twice in the closing five minutes to give the battling visitors a first away win of the season.
“When we went 2-0 up I felt we were comfortable,” said Eustance.
“It is disappointing with the lack of concentration and decision-making at key moments and the way we conceded the goals.
"The group are learning all the time. Watford are a really good team, if you give good players chances and switch off they will punish you.
“It is the second game in a row we've given a penalty away and given the opposition a chance to punish us.
“It is a soft penalty but we have gone to ground. We shouldn’t have been in that position and we have to learn from the goals we have conceded and do better.
“We need to be at it for 95 minutes, you can't let teams back into it. We need to keep concentrating and see games out.
“If you give a good team a chance they will smell it. The players are down, we are all down and disappointed we didn't win the game.
“It's really frustrating, but the boys are determined to put it right.”
The Rams were dealt an early blow when Carlton Morris was subbed on 17 minutes after failing to recover from a knock, which is likely to lead to a long spell on the sidelines.
Langas fired a fierce effort wide moments later as Derby got their first sniff of goal.
Kwadwo Baah saw a shot saved midway through the half after easily skipping past Callum Elder.
Sanderson fired the Rams ahead on 36 minutes after banging home a brilliant volley from just inside the box for his first goal in Derby colours.
Nathan Baxter saved well to keep out an Andi Weimann header as the hosts nearly doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time.
But the hosts did extend their lead when an unmarked Langas headed home Joe Ward’s peach of a free-kick on 54 minutes.
Watford got back in it after pulling a goal back on 61 minutes following a good finish by Kjerrumgaard after Jeremy Ngakia opened up the home defence.
They were given a lifeline when Nestory Irankunda was brought down in the box, with Edo Kayembe keeping his cool to send the keeper the wrong way and level with five minutes to go.
And Watford sealed an unlikely win when Kayembe completed his brace three minutes later after heading home an Imrân Louza cross.