Villa hits top form for Rams

Emanuel Villa nets a hat-trick as Derby beat Brighton in the Carling Cup third round.

Emanuel Villa claims hat-trick as Derby run riot at Brighton

Argentinean forward Emanuel Villa grabbed a hat-trick as Derby cruised to a 4-1 away win at League One Brighton in the third round of the Carling Cup. The Rams will now face Leeds United in the fourth round at Pride Park following their victory on the South Coast. Paul Jewell's men have now lost just one of their last 12 games and took the lead in the 28th minute. Poland striker Przemyslaw Kazmierczak, on loan from Porto, delivered a cross which Brighton goalkeeper John Sullivan fumbled and Villa was on hand to prod home from six yards. Derby doubled their advantage six minutes later when Nathan Ellington slotted past Sullivan after Dean Leacock had put him clean through. The home side responded immediately and got back into the game within two minutes when Tommy Elphick headed home Kevin Thornton's corner. However, Villa put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute when he headed home substitute Gary Teale's cross, before claiming his hat-trick with a neat finish three minutes from time. Brighton will be disappointed with the result having defeated Manchester City in the last round and things could have been different had Elphick equalised in the 65th minute but his header was kept out by Roy Carroll.