Derby County 5-1 Blackpool: Martin Treble Aids Rams Revival

In-form Derby County striker Chris Martin made it six goals in five games hitting a second half hat-trick that kept Steve McClaren's winning run going with victory over nine-man Blackpool. County fell behind to Championship promotion rivals Blackpool early on through Isaiah Osborune, but Martin converted two penalties after the break and scored a third from open play between them. Craig Bryson and Richard Keogh were also on target as Blackpool saw their poor discipline continue. McClaren's men have now recorded five straight wins. Visitors Blackpool went ahead inside three minutes as Osbourne nodded in Tom Ince's free kick with a flicked header into the bottom corner. Derby left back Craig Forsyth had fouled Steve Davies. The hosts responded with talented youngster Will Hughes curling a free kick just wide of the Blackpool goal. Martin then saw a shot blocked after more good work from Hughes. The former Norwich frontman also threatened down the left, but drew a fine tackle from Liverpool loanee Jack Robinson. Andre Wisdom then got down the right and forced a corner. Set pieces were the Rams' best advenue in the first quarter as they were otherwise reduced to a long range effort from Simon Dawkins that sailed over. Winger Dawkins, on loan from Spurs, then almost levelled on the counter, but Neal Bishop's last ditch block denied him getting a shot away. The makeshift Blackpool fullback also threw himself at a goalbound Martin shot after half an hour. Bryson scooped over from close range as Derby and Dawkins continued to terorrize the visiting defence. Bishop survived handball appeals when the ball struck his arm from yet another Rams corner. McClaren made a half time substitution taking Jamie Ward off for Johnny Russell. It was strike partner Martin, however, that brought about the turnaround. First he won and scored a penalty when Robinson sent him tumbling in the box two minutes after the break. Blackpool's back four failed to clear their lines five minutes later following Russell's shot and Martin helped himself to a second. Derby made it three goals in ten minutes as midfielder Bryson squeezed in his eighth of the season after more good work from Dawkins and Wisdom. Davies then saw a low free kick kept out by Lee Grant as a shellshocked Blackpool had to rethink their plans. Paul Ince's afternoon got worse as Bishop brought down Dawkins for a second penalty and was sent off. Martin coolly dispatched from the spot again to complete his hat-trick in just over 20 second half minutes. A miserable day for Blackpool ended with sub Angel Martin getting his marching orders too for a second booking, so they finished with nine. Derby captain Keogh nodded in a fifth stoppage to cap an impressive second half from the hosts. McClaren's Rams are looking at automatic promotion if this hot form continues. They sit just four points off top spot in fourth place ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures. Ince meanwhile will struggle to field an XI if the sendings off continue.