Derby County have kept alive their very faint hopes of snatching an automatic promotion place with a 3-1 win against Championship strugglers Blackpool.

The Rams fell behind with only 20 seconds on the clock when Tangerines striker David Goodwillie unleashed an unstoppable effort to stun Steve McLaren's side.

However, they responded as soon as the third minute when Chris Martin got onto the end of Johnny Russell's cross and put his effort beyond Matt Gilks to register his 20th goal of the campaign.

The visitors began to settle and quickly capitalised by taking the lead when Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford fired home Craig Bryson's cross.

On 19 minutes, and after a frenetic start to the game, Derby took control when Bryson beat a helpless Gilks from six yards.

Blackpool tried to pull a goal back and ought to have done so when Craig Cathcart sent his close-range header wide of Lee Grant's goal.

However, it was Derby who controlled the game as the Tangerines failed to hit the target enough in the second half, despite having 10 attempts at goal.

Indeed, the second period was dominated by protests from disgruntled Blackpool fans, who were held back by stewards as they looked to register their disgust with chairman Karl Oyston's running of the Fylde club.

Meanwhile, Derby can still catch second-placed Burnley to achieve automatic promotion, but the Championship playoff seems the more likely route to the Premier League for the Rams.