SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday October 31st, 7.45pm
Pride Park
DERBY COUNTY 4
Max Bird 14, 32
Conor Washington 22
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 49
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 24,719 (number of Cobblers fans not confirmed)
Derby: Joe Wildsmith, Craig Forsyth, Conor Hourihane (sub Tyrese Fornah 68), Sonny Bradley, Tom Barkhuizen, Max Bird (sub Dajaune Brown 76), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (sub Kane Wilson 68), Korey Smith, Conor Washington (sub James Collins 59), Ryan Nyambe (sub Joe Ward 59), Curtis Nelson
Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Louie Sibley
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Akin Odimayo (sub Aaron McGowan 72), Patrick Brough, Sam Sherring, Manny Monthe (sub Will Hondermarck 46), Ali Koiki (sub Jordan Willis 46), Marc Leonard, Shaun McWilliams (sub Peter Abimbola 58), Mitch Pinnock (sub Ryan Haynes 46), Sam Hoskins, Tyreece Simpson
Subs not used: Max Thompson, Harvey Lintott
Referee: Simon Mather
Booked:
Derby: Conor Washington (57)
Cobblers: Patrick Brough (2), Akin Odimayo (72)
Sent off:
Derby: none
Cobblers: none
Jon Brady made one change for the re-arranged midweek trip to Derby County with Ali Koki coming into the side in place of Jordan Willis. James Collins, who spent the second half of the 2015/16 season on loan at Sixfields, was on the bench for Derby.
Conor Washington and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing both spurned chances before Max Bird opened the scoring for the home side on 14 minutes, slotting home a cross from Washington.
Having set up the first goal, Conor Washington made it 2-0 midway through the first half, firing into the bottom corner after making a strong run.
Mitch Pinnock had a shot blocked at close range as the Cobblers tried to respond but Derby increased their lead further on 32 minutes, Max Bird scoring for a second time.
Will Hondermarck, Ryan Haynes and Jordan Willis came on for the second half, replacing Mitch Pinnock, Manny Monthe and Ali Koiki in a triple change.
Sam Hoskins had a shot deflected behind before things got worse for the Cobblers when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing capped off a swift counter-attack to make it 4-0.
Lee Burge made a good save to deny Washington as Derby looked for a fifth, Tom Barkhuizen also going close for the Rams before Peter Abimbola came on for Shaun McWilliams. Akin Odimayo, having just been booked, then made way for Aaron McGowan in the Cobblers fifth and final change.
Substitute James Collins headed a good chance wide but there were no more goals, a tough night for the Cobblers finishing in a 4-0 defeat.
DERBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (4) 7
FOULS: (0) 4
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1