Anthony Musaba raises his arms in celebration after giving Norwich the lead against Derby CountyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Norwich striker Anthony Musaba scored 12 goals for Sheffield Wednesday

ByNeil Squires
BBC Sport England

Norwich City made it three Championship wins in a row with a thumping victory at Pride Park to continue their resurgence and pile more pressure on Derby head coach John Eustace.

The ragged Rams, now seven points from safety, were pulled apart as first-half goals from Anthony Musaba, Paris Maghoma and Darlin Yongwa put Norwich out of sight.

Substitute Jovon Makama made it four with a thunderous strike after the break as Philippe Clement's Canaries kept a first clean sheet in 24 games.

The humbling leaves Eustace, who took Derby to within four points of the play-offs last season, staring down the barrel after just one win all season.

To add to second-from-bottom Derby's woes, they lost top scorer Sammie Szmodics, who limped off with a knee injury in the second half.

Derby, humbled 4-1 by Millwall at the weekend, were pressed into putting out a 12th different back four, including teenage debutant Isaac Gordon at right-back.

The new combination looked uneasy from the start as Norwich took an eighth-minute lead through Musaba.

Jack Stacey's cross from wide on the right found the unmarked Yongwa at the far post and although Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was able to keep out his header, Musaba - on loan from Fenerbache - was able to tap in his third goal of the season.

Maghoma doubled the lead with a terrific goal, beating the despairing Alex Mowatt three times before curling a lovely shot into the far corner with his left foot from outside the box.

It was the former Tottenham and Brentford man's third goal in as many games.

Stacey was inches away from making it three a couple of minutes later, striking the post after being put through by Maghoma before Mowatt cleared the rebound acrobatically off the line.

But Norwich's travelling fans did not have to wait long to celebrate again as Andre Brooks tore down the right and his cross was deflected into the path of Yongwa, who drove the ball home emphatically with his left foot.

Gordon, targeted by Norwich, was withdrawn by Eustace as one of three changes at half-time to try to inject some life into his floundering team.

They did tighten things up to a degree only to leak a fourth when substitute Makama beat the flailing Zetterstrom in the Derby goal from distance.

'I'll take full responsibility for performance' - reaction

Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"Seven points [from safety] at this stage is not great but not the end of the world. Tonight's performance wasn't at the level - we're trying to mix the team up to try to find a solution while we're in this difficult situation.

"Throughout the season we haven't been good enough or strong enough as a group which we've got to fix for the game on Friday.

"Tactically I got it wrong tonight and I'll take full responsibility for the performance.

"I'm confident I can turn things around, I'm certainly not giving up - it's a tough period but when we get through it eventually it'll make us stronger again."

Norwich goalscorer Anthony Musaba told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"We got a clean sheet and scored loads of goals so overall it was a top performance.

"Since I came here, we've had lots of good games, but this is especially nice because of the clean sheet.

"We have conceded a few goals so to end it with a clean sheet is a top feeling overall for the team but especially for the defenders and the goalkeeper. As attackers, when we score we celebrate. This is for them to celebrate.

"We're in a good flow. We've got Bristol [City] next and if we can go into the international break with four wins it would be perfect."

What's next for both teams?

Derby County entertain Bolton on Friday night in the Championship while Norwich City travel to Bristol City on Saturday at 12.30 GMT.

Player of the match

Number: 25 P. Maghoma
Average rating 8.71
Number: 1 J. Widell Zetterström
Average Rating: 3.65
Number: 16 M. Fuseini
Average Rating: 3.17
Number: 43 I. Gordon
Average Rating: 3.09
Number: 29 O. Fraulo
Average Rating: 3.06
Number: 8 B. Clark
Average Rating: 2.89
Number: 13 F. Bilbija
Average Rating: 2.86
Number: 27 L. Travis
Average Rating: 2.82
Number: 19 H. Meister
Average Rating: 2.77
Number: 14 J. Robinson
Average Rating: 2.68
Number: 11 S. Szmodics
Average Rating: 2.64
Number: 20 A. Mowatt
Average Rating: 2.63
Number: 28 D. Sanderson
Average Rating: 2.62
Number: 9 C. Morris
Average Rating: 2.58
Number: 24 R. Nyambe
Average Rating: 2.58
Number: 10 R. Brewster
Average Rating: 2.55
Number: 22 M. Johnston
Average Rating: 2.47

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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