Derby County are on course for a comfortable victory after taking a 3-0 lead into the half-time break against Blackpool.

It was the perfect start to the game for Steve McClaren's side as Craig Bryson collected the ball in midfield before using the space on offer to pick out the bottom corner with a low strike from 25 yards.

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Derby remained on top after the early goal, with Elliot Parish being forced into a fine save to deny Simon Dawkins before Tom Ince fired just over the crossbar.

Despite being forced onto the back foot for much of the first half, Blackpool could have snatched an equaliser had Darren O'Dea not headed over after meeting a corner in the box.

However, it was Derby who moved into a comfortable lead with two goals in two minutes as the Blackpool defence crumbled under growing pressure.

Ince combined well with Ryan Shotton on the wing to curl the ball into the bottom corner, before Darren Bent capitalised on a poor pass to sprint clear and slot home to make it 3-0.