Derby 4 – 0 Portsmouth

Derby ended a six-match winless run in emphatic style as a dominant first-half display helped them to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth to move seven points clear of their rivals and the drop zone.

The Rams last won in the second tier at the start of November while Pompey were on a four-game unbeaten run, but this game went against the grain as Derby raced into a 3-0 lead inside the first half hour.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing bagged two of the goals, including the first for Kane Wilson after eight minutes when the Derby captain crossed for the full-back to tap home.

The home side then showed their prowess once more when Eiran Kashin headed home Kenzo Goodman’s corner for Derby’s best 12th goal of the season.

It was even better six minutes later when Mendez-Laing’s cross from the left was turned in by Ebu Adams with Tom McIntyre’s wicked deflection into the far corner.

Portsmouth failed to find the back of the net and their performance in the second half matched the dismal first.

And a familiar face punished them when former Pompey winger Marcus Harness played down the right and after dancing through several defenders, his cross was turned into his own net by Marlon Pack.

It could have been worse as James Collins headed a good chance wide of the far post, while Pompey goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid did well to keep out Goodman and Curtis Nelson late on.

There was also an almost comical own goal from the visitors when Schmid headed in Abdoulaye Kamara’s back post under pressure from substitute Kaiden Jackson, but the shot rebounded to clear it off the line.

But Derby had to settle for four as they ended a four-game winless run at Pride Park and Paul Warne’s side can now start looking up the table.

WATCH: All derby goals.

The game in statistics

The leaders

Derby Paul Warne.

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Portsmouth John Moussinho.

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