Derby County moved into the Sky Bet League One play-off places thanks to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers.
David McGoldrick's second hat-trick of the season after Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had opened the scoring cemented all three points and made for the perfect Christmas send off for the Rams.
The Rams started incredibly brightly and after a couple of early half-chances found themselves in front within the opening five minutes. Lovely interplay between Conor Hourihane and the returning Mendez-Laing resulted in the latter turning his man inside the area and firing a lovely left-footed effort into the bottom corner of Luke McGee's goal.
It was two before the 20 minute mark with McGoldrick finishing off one of the best worked goals of the season. Louie Sibley, Tom Barkhuizen and Max Bird were all involved in a slick passing move which ended in Bird crossing brilliantly for McGoldrick to slot home his eighth of the season.
With Derby cruising and looking in no danger, the visitors did fire a warning to the Rams that the game wasn't quite over just yet. Dom Bernard did brilliantly down the right and found on loan Chelsea striker Bryan Fiabema free in the middle but he could only head over the bar from six-yards out.
Bird with an assist already to his name nearly made it three when he met Hourihane's corner on the edge of the box but his first-time volley was kept out brilliantly by McGee.
The Rams started the second-half as they did the first and nearly went 3-0 up early doors. A pin-point Hourihane delivery was met by Mendez-Laing who headed against the post and the rebound fell to James Collins who fired just wide on the turn.
Jason Knight was introduced around the hour mark for the Rams and his first contribution was to set McGoldrick up for his second and Derby's third of the day.
The Irish midfielder spun his man brilliantly and laid the ball on a plate for McGoldrick who fired a superb finish into the top right corner and put the game beyond doubt.
Knight made an incredibly positive impact on the side and he nearly made it four before the game was out when he got on the end of McGoldrick's neat flick. He latched onto the ball and beat his man before firing an effort inches wide of the post.
It was four soon after, however, and it was McGoldrick taking home the match ball for the second time this campaign. A cross from substitute Lewis Dobbin was met by the striker and though his initial header was expertly kept out by McGee, he followed in for the rebound and poked home for his hat-trick goal - rounding off a superb performance from those in black and white.
Attendance: 24,334 (345 Forest Green Rovers fans)
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (85' Thompson), Cashin, Barkhuizen (67' Dobbin), Bird (C), Collins (67' Knight), McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing (79' Osula), Smith, Sibley (85' Davies)
Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Roberts
Forest Green Rovers: McGee (GK), O'Keeffe, Bernard, Casey, Cargill (66' Godwin-Malife) (C), Stevenson (45' Davis), Hendry, Boyes (66' Little), McAllister, Fiabema (57' Matt), March (86' Bunker)
Substitutes not used: Thomas (GK), Stevens
The Rams aren't back in action until after Christmas now when they travel to promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers on 27th December (3pm kick-off).
