Half-Time Report: Chris Martin fires dominant Derby County in front

Derby County are in good stead for their sixth away win of the Championship season as they head into half time with a 1-0 lead over Brentford.

The Rams controlled the opening stages and almost took the lead with five minutes on the clock as Simon Dawkins surged into the Bees box and fired a shot into the side-netting.

Steve McClaren's side threatened again in the eighth minute. Chris Martin managed to get a shot away from the edge of the box, but his curling effort ended up the wrong side of the post.

Derby turned their dominance into a goal in the 26th minute when Craig Forsyth's measured cross was turned in off the post by Martin, whose tally for the season now stands at 12.

The Coldplay frontman's namesake almost had a second just after the half-hour mark, but his flicked effort was saved by David Button as Brentford kept the deficit at one come the interval.