A sensational Sky Bet Championship display in the South
West saw Derby County fire five past Bristol City on Friday night.

The game was slow to get going, but Brewster livened it up when he gave Derby the lead from inside the penalty area in the 13th minute.

It was soon 2-0 as Brereton Díaz fired an effort underneath the diving Radek Vitek after Bobby Clark threaded him in space on the right.

Clark then got in on the act after 37 minutes when he coolly finished in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The dominance continued into the second period, where the Rams withstood pressure before making it four via the head of Patrick Agyemang in the 66th minute.

Lars-Jørgen Salvesen secured the points in the 88th minute when he made it five.

Key Moments

There was little action in the first 10 minutes, with both sides trying to establish control of the game.

But that came the way of the Rams after a prolonged spell of possession; Brewster ghosted in behind the defensive line to steer home a pinpoint Callum Elder cross from the left flank.

And Brereton Díaz backed it up on the next attack, as after the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, Clark prodded into the path of Brereton Díaz, who grasped the opportunity from close range.

The roles were nearly reversed for Brereton Díaz and Clark in the 25th minute when a header forward by the Chilean international found Clark running in behind to shoot, but his effort dragged wide of the mark.

Elder made a vital defensive action as the hosts looked to carve their clearest opening of the first half in the 29th minute.

Brereton Díaz did find Clark to finish in the 37th minute when Derby carved an opening to see Clark one-on-one with the goalkeeper and able to slot home with composure.

Adam Randell threaded Mark Sykes into a shooting position, but excellent recovery work from the Rams’ left-back saw him make a sliding effort to block the danger.

Bristol thought they had pulled a goal back as Sam Bell saw the ball into the back of the net, but an offside was called to see the score remain at 3-0.

HALF-TIME: Bristol City 0-3 Derby County

The Rams were forced to defend as the hosts looked to respond after the first half. Half-time substitute Neto Borges had their first effort on goal after the hour, but Richard O’Donnell in the Derby net was able to collect.

Agyemang nearly notched a fourth of the match moments later when he bent a left-footed effort goalward, but the ball spun just wide of the far post.

He got on the scoresheet minutes later, though, as Fraulo switched the ball to Brereton Diaz, who laid it back to Ward, who whipped a ball in that was met by a towering header from the American to make it 4-0.

Then in the 88th minute Salvesen struck to cement the victory and secure maximum points on the road.

Teams

Bristol City: Vitek (GK), McCrorie, Pring, Randall, Twine (Burgzorg 63), Knight (C), Dickie, Sykes (Borges 46), Riis, Tanner, Bell (Armstrong 46).

Substitutes: Lumley (GK), Williams, Naylor, Pecover, Earthy.

Derby County: O’Donnell (GK), Clarke, Agyemang (Salvesen 70), Brewster (Banel 70), Ozoh, Elder, Ward, Brereton Díaz (Eames 78), Travis (C) (Fraulo 59), Sanderson, Clark (Weimann 78).

Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Thompson.

What’s Next?

Derby host Ipswich Town at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 7th February (12.31pm kick-off).