Derby 3-0 Brentford: Rams cruise past Brentford

Tom Huddlestone ended his long wait for his first Derby goal as 10-man Brentford were beaten 3-0 at Pride Park.

Huddlestone, who made his debut in 2003 and is in his second spell with the Rams, scored nine minutes after Sergi Canos had been sent off for a tackle on Marcus Olsson.

The midfielder then supplied the pass that led to Cameron Jerome scoring his first goal since his £1.5million move from Norwich last month and Matej Vydra's late penalty sealed a victory that keeps Derby in second place.

Derby had brought in Ikechi Anya for his first league start of the season while Kasey Palmer was on the bench following his transfer deadline-day loan move from Chelsea.

It was Derby who had the first opening in the 12th minute when a header from Chris Mepham fell to Vydra on the edge of the area but Andreas Bjelland deflected his shot behind for a corner.

Brentford had an even better chance two minutes later when Richard Keogh's header dropped to Florian Jozefzoon eight yards out but he fired well over when he should have hit the target.

It was a let-off for Derby, who were handed a big advantage in the 21st minute when midfielder Canos was shown a red card by Peter Bankes for a challenge which left Olsson needing treatment.

Replays suggested it was harsh, but Derby made it count with two goals in the space of five minutes, with Huddlestone ending his long wait to get his name on the Derby scoresheet.

A header from Curtis Davies was pushed out by Daniel Bentley and the former Tottenham man turned the rebound in from inside the six-yard box on the half-hour mark.

Brentford were opened up again in the 34th minute when Huddlestone found Tom Lawrence and, although Bentley blocked the shot, Jerome easily put away the loose ball.

The visitors had a chance to get back in the game before half-time but Romaine Sawyers shot over from 12 yards and Derby missed a great chance to finish it nine minutes into the second half.

Jerome played the ball inside to Vydra six yards out but Derby's top scorer scooped the ball over the bar - and Brentford twice almost pulled a goal back in the 68th minute.

Henrik Dalsgaard's deflected shot was clawed out by Scott Carson who made an even better save from the corner to turn behind Mepham's glancing header.

It was a reminder the points were still not secure but after Anya fired over from 12 yards, Vydra scored from the spot in stoppage time when Sam Winnall was tripped by Bjelland.

The managers

Gary Rowett: "If I'm being honest it didn't look like a blatant sending off, it looked like a dangerous tackle although I'd have to see a really clear view to see whether I thought it was particularly dangerous. My players were surrounding the referee? I think that's a cop-out, you can't blame players for surrounding the referee.

"You can blame a player for going in recklessly, you can blame a referee if you don't think it's the right decision but to suggest our players have influenced the referee is an excuse in my opinion."

Dean Smith: "Unfortunately the scoreline is reflective of the referee's decision which, for me, was very harsh. I think the reason he is sent off was because of the reaction of the Derby players. They run around the referee, if you watch it back four or five go straight round him which makes his mind up.

"Sergi gets there before the lad Olsson and wins the ball cleanly, maybe the follow-through catches him but the lad jumps, gets out of the way. The referee said it was excessive force but I don't know how you can make a tackle on that pitch when it's as greasy as that without excessive force. There's certainly nothing malicious in that tackle."