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Derby County recorded their first ever victory at the Pirelli Stadium as they beat Burton Albion 3-0 in League One.

James Collins, skipper Conor Hourihane and Conor Washington all netted as the Rams got their season up and running after last week's 2-1 home defeat to Wigan.

Collins, a former Albion loanee, struck an early blow, heading home in the seventh minute to convert Hourihane's free-kick from the right.

Burton almost found themselves two behind a couple of minutes later, when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was denied at close quarters by a smart save from Jamal Blackman.

Burton went close in the first half through Sam Hughes, who was twice denied by Joe Wildsmith in the Derby goal, while the Rams keeper almost gifted Albion an equaliser by firing a clearance straight at striker Josh Gordon which rebounded over the bar.

Max Bird should have added a second but inexplicably failed to convert a low cross from Mendez-Laing with the goal at his mercy just before the hour mark.

Hourihane's calm finish with 12 minutes remaining gave Derby the comfort of a two-goal advantage before substitute Washington added a third late on.

Match report supplied by PA Media.