Match ends, Derby County 4, Bristol City 0.
DerbyDerby County4Bristol CityBristol City0
Derby winger Tom Ince hit a hat-trick as Paul Clement's side climbed to third in the Championship with a comfortable victory over struggling Bristol City.
The 23-year-old opened the scoring with a low finish after a mazy run three minutes before the break.
He got his second with a shot that went in under Frankie Fielding, and combined with Darren Bent to complete the treble before Johnny Russell headed home.
Steve Cotterill's City side slip to 21st, one point above the drop zone.
Just two minutes before Ince put Derby ahead, Nathan Baker hit the post for the away side, connecting with an in-swinging Joe Bryan free-kick, while Bent had earlier struck the crossbar with a header from Jeff Hendrick's cross.
Derby are now two points off the automatic promotion places, but Hull could climb back above them into third if they beat Reading by three goals on Wednesday.
City beat Huddersfield 2-1 away on Saturday to register their first win in five matches, but with the Terriers beating Rotherham and MK Dons beating Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, they fall from 19th to 21st - one place above the relegation places.
The Robins next play Queens Park Rangers at home in a 15:00 GMT kick-off on Saturday, when Derby are away to Ipswich.
Derby head coach Paul Clement:
"I'm very pleased for Tom Ince, he's been a little bit inconsistent by his standards so far this season so it was a very good performance from him and will be brilliant for his confidence.
"I've spoken to him about being mentally strong and during good times not getting too excited and thinking you're the best player in the world.
"When things are not going so well, you don't listen too much to the criticism because things can change really quickly and he's come through it brilliantly."
Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill:
"We didn't pass the ball like we normally do. We weren't good enough to take them on and we didn't show enough courage to pass the ball.
"In the first half I thought we kept them at arms' length but then there was some individual brilliance from Ince for the first goal.
"In the second half we were the better team for 20 minutes but conceded a goal against the run of play and then there was no way back for us."
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Grant
- 2Christie
- 6KeoghBooked at 54mins
- 14Shackell
- 37WarnockSubstituted forBairdat 74'minutes
- 8HendrickSubstituted forThorneat 60'minutes
- 15Johnson
- 24WeimannSubstituted forButterfieldat 70'minutes
- 23Ince
- 11Russell
- 10Bent
Substitutes
- 9Martin
- 12Baird
- 18Butterfield
- 26Hanson
- 32Shotton
- 34Thorne
- 35Mitchell
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fielding
- 16Moore
- 4FlintBooked at 87mins
- 17Baker
- 13BennettSubstituted forLittleat 80'minutes
- 7Smith
- 21PackSubstituted forWilbrahamat 82'minutes
- 23BryanSubstituted forReidat 72'minutes
- 3Williams
- 10Agard
- 15Freeman
Substitutes
- 2Little
- 5Ayling
- 9Cox
- 14Reid
- 18Wilbraham
- 22Kodjia
- 24O'Leary
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 27,781
Match Stats
Home TeamDerbyAway TeamBristol City
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 4, Bristol City 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luke Freeman (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Korey Smith (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Derby County).
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Attempt missed. Tom Ince (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Cyrus Christie.
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Foul by Aaron Wilbraham (Bristol City).
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Richard Keogh (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Luke Freeman (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by George Thorne (Derby County).
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Foul by Mark Little (Bristol City).
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Johnny Russell (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Bradley Johnson.
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Aaron Wilbraham (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jason Shackell (Derby County).
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Attempt missed. Darren Bent (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Aden Flint (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Aden Flint (Bristol City).
Post update
Jacob Butterfield (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Bobby Reid (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
