Derby County secured a seventh successive league win against Doncaster Rovers to move to within three points of Burnley at the top of the Championship.
The Rams were in front after 13 minutes when Chris Martin drew in defenders before slipping the ball to winger Jamie Ward, whose effort was too good for Ross Turnbull.
However, Turnbull kept Yorkshire club in the game when he saved Martin's penalty, after the Derby striker was brought down in the box by Rovers defender Luke McCullough.
Doncaster's day seemed to be getting worse when their forward Chris Brown was forced off through injury before half time.
However, the visitors came close to an equaliser five minutes after the break when Enda Stevens found Theo Robinson, who produced a good stop from Lee Grant.
Derby then broke out and Simon Dawkins's mazy run and neat finish saw Steve McLaren's team double their advantage.
Doncaster posed problems in attack against a shaky County defence and managed to a pull a goal back when a corner was inadvertently headed into the net by Derby defender Jake Buxton.
Two minutes later, Paul Dickov's men could have been back on level terms when substitute Federico Macheda got in behind the Rams defence but dragged his shot wide.
Instead, the hosts scored a decisive third when Craig Bryson's curling shot found the far corner of Turnbull's net.
Derby held on to extend their winning run and the league's leading scorer, move to within two points of an automatic promotion place.
Chris O'Keefe
