Derby thump Portsmouth to end six-game winless run

Derby ended a run of six games without a win in emphatic style as a dominant first-half display helped them to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth, to take them seven points above their opponents and the drop zone.

The Rams last picked up a second-tier win in early November, while Pompey were on a four-game unbeaten run – but this game went against the formbook as Derby went 3-0 up inside the first half an hour.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing created two of the goals, including the first for Kane Wilson after eight minutes, as the Derby captain crossed for the wing-back to slam home.

The hosts then showed their set-piece expertise once again as Eiran Cashin crashed home a header from Kenzo Goudmijn’s corner – for Derby’s league-high 12th set-piece goal of the season.

It was even better six minutes later as Mendez-Laing’s cross from the left was turned in by Ebou Adams – via a wicked deflection from Tom McIntyre to take it into the far corner.

Portsmouth failed to register a shot on target throughout and their second-half performance matched the dreariness of the first.

And a familiar face punished them as former Pompey winger Marcus Harness was played through down the right and after dancing through multiple 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 Goudmijn and Curtis Nelson late on.

There was also almost a comical own goal from the visitors as Schmid left Abdoulaye Kamara’s backpass while under pressure from substitute Kayden Jackson, but the shot-stopper scampered back 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.