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Derby strengthened their position at the top of the Championship with an emphatic win over struggling Brighton.

The Rams dominated from the start and Chris Martin put them ahead with an early shot into the bottom corner.

Johnny Russell then dinked the ball beyond Brighton keeper David Stockdale and Martin's second, a header, made it 3-0 inside the opening 20 minutes.

Craig Bryson hit a post as Derby had more chances but Brighton, who are 22nd, avoided further embarrassment.

The result means Sami Hyypia's Seagulls have now registered only one league win since August and remain in the relegation zone.

However, it was a fine response from Steve McClaren's side, who had seen a three-game winning run grind to a halt at Leeds United last weekend.

Martin, without a goal in four matches, gave them the perfect start, arrowing a powerful shot into the corner with little more than 10 minutes on the clock.

Russell's neat finish past Stockdale following another incisive move then doubled the lead, before Aston Villa loanee Darren Bent guided a header into the net to provide Brighton with an instant riposte - only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.

Martin soon rounded off a disastrous opening quarter for the Seagulls, meeting Cyrus Christie's early cross to head home at the far post.

Hyypia acted quickly to arrest the slide, bringing Rohan Ince on for Carlos Teixeira with less than half an hour gone, and the Seagulls soon wrestled their way back into the contest, enjoying plenty of the ball albeit failing to seriously test Lee Grant in the Derby goal.

But the Rams took control again after the interval, with Bryson coming close to embarrassing Stockdale from long range - the Brighton keeper fortunate to see his fumbled save bounce away off the post.

Jeff Hendrick and Bryson both had further opportunities to make it 4-0 as the Rams attempted to do further damage, and Martin was only denied a hat-trick by a smart save.

Derby manager Steve McClaren: "It was a great reaction, after last Saturday [when they lost to Leeds].

"It was important we started well with lots of energy, and we did that.

"We knew we would create chances, but could we be clinical in front of goal? We certainly were in the first 20 minutes."

Brighton manager Sami Hyypia: "I think I can turn it around. If I don't think I can turn it around then I will walk away.

"I will still be here and taking training on Monday. Only if I am told from elsewhere will I not be taking training, but that is a matter that is out of my control.

"However, I don't expect that to happen."