Derby County returned to winning ways with a thumping 4-0 victory over Northampton Town on Tuesday evening.
A brace from Max Bird plus goals from Conor Washington and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cemented an extremely impressive win for the Rams under the lights.
The Rams started well and forced a couple of corners in quick succession before Conor Washington flicked a Tom Barkhuizen cross agonisingly wide at the near post.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing looking to build on his two goals in his previous two got a run on his man and made his way into the box but skewed his effort wide as Derby continued to press.
And The Rams took a well deserved lead after just 14 minutes through Max Bird. Washington beat his man for pace down the left and crossed low for Bird who slotted home beyond Lee Burge in the Northampton goal.
Bird nearly turned provider soon after when his cross-shot was directed towards goal by Korey Smith but it fell wrong side of the post.
It was the provider for the first, Washington, that made it two after 23 minutes and it was a great finish. Craig Forsyth slipped a neat pass through to him and Washington beat his man before firing home left-footed to double the advantage.
Bird had his second and Derby had their third with just 30 minutes played. Ryan Nyambe and Conor Hourihane combined well down the left and the latter whipped a lovely ball into the path of Bird who fired home on the half-volley to extend the lead further!
The rout continued after the break for the Rams who made it 4-0 within two minutes of the restart.
Washington and Barkhuizen combined superbly down the right and the latter delivered a peach of a cross to Mendez-Laing who fired in his third goal in three games.
Barkhuizen was inches away from getting in on the action when he came sliding in to try and divert a cross from Forsyth but a deflection took the ball off of his toes and behind for a corner.
The winger then fired over from a tight angle following a through ball from Mendez-Laing as Derby's dominance continued.
Two substitutes combined when James Collins headed just wide from a delicious ball from Joe Ward but that was all she wrote.
A convincing performance and victory for the Rams who move up seventh in Sky Bet League One.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (C) (68' Fornah), Bradley, Barkhuizen, Bird (76' Brown), Mendez-Laing (68' Wilson), Smith, Washington (61' Collins), Nyambe (61' Ward), Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Sibley.
Northampton Town: Burge (GK), Sherring, Hoskins (C), Pinnock (46' Haynes), Monthe (46' Hondermarck), Koiki (46' Willis), Simpson, McWilliams (58' Abimbola), Leonard, Odimayo (72' McGowan), Brough.
Substitutes not used: Thompson, Lintott.
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It's a break from Sky Bet League One action as the Rams travel to Sky Bet League Two side Crewe Alexandra in FA Cup Round One on Sunday (2:45pm kick-off).
