Chris Martin at the double to breathe life into Derby's promotion challenge

Chris Martin netted a double for Derby

CHRIS MARTIN propelled Derby into the play-off zone yesterday – and they look in the mood to sustain their promotion challenge.

 

The striker, who scored his first international goal for Scotland last week, added two more – and missed a penalty – as Wolves were swept aside and Derby won for the fifth time in six games.

It was a reminder of Martin’s crucial importance to Derby, whose promotion ambitions disintegrated last season when he was sidelined by injury for two months.

Derby’s head coach Paul Clement said: “I’ve not seen a better centre-forward this season. It’s a shame he didn’t get his reward with a hat-trick but the response from the supporters showed they appreciated his performance.”

Others were also influential in a convincing win, with Bradley Johnson and Johnny Russell on target against a Wolves side that leaked five goals on their previous visit to the iPro Stadium.

 

Paul Clement was impressed with Chris Martin's display

Wolves did reply through Benik Afobe and Adam Le Fondre but were on the back foot for long periods and lost ground on Derby, who are a point adrift of the automatic promotion places they occupied for so much of last season.

Martin started to torment Wolves after only three minutes when Jeff Hendrick laid the ball into his path and he lashed it past keeper Emiliano Martinez.

Wolves were struggling to put anything together but, suddenly, they were back in the game through Afobe in the 19th minute. The balance of power briefly shifted but Derby regained the lead after 28 minutes and Wolves never threatened to find a route back into the match.

Martin was again the scorer before Johnson claimed his first goal for the club as he met Russell’s cross. “That was a big moment,” said Clement. “If it hadn’t gone in, Wolves would have had a lot of belief going into the second half.”

 

Bradley Johnson was also on target for Derby

Russell added their fourth in the 57th minute after more dreadful defending by a back four that had conceded only one goal in their previous four games.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett said: “Derby were strong and they take some stopping but our defending was poor. We gifted things to them and invited them on to us.”

Derby (4-3-3): Carson; Christie (Baird 79), Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth; Johnson, Thorne, Hendrick (Butterfield 74); Russell, Martin (Bent 89), Ince. Booked: Ince. Goals: Martin 3, 28, Johnson 45, Russell 57.

Wolves (4-4-2): Martinez; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Golbourne; Henry, Price (Coady 61), McDonald, Wallace (Ojo 61); Le Fondre (Enobakhare 82), Afobe. Booked: Batth, Enobakhare. Goals: Afobe 19, Le Fondre 64.

Referee: A Madley (West Yorkshire).DERBY 4

WOLVES 2