Steve McClaren off to winning start as Derby County manager

Steve McClaren has guided Derby County to a 3-1 victory over Leeds United in his first game in charge of the club, courtesy of goals from Chris Martin, Johnny Russell and Will Hughes.

The hosts began the brighter of the two teams and it was not long before McClaren would see the first goal scored under his tutelage.

Martin played a neat one-two with Craig Bryson, before smashing past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in the Leeds goal.

It would get better for McClaren and his team minutes later, as the former England boss was swiftly vindicated for his decision to include Russell in the starting lineup after the 23-year-old surged toward goal and comfortably slotted past Kenny.

The celebrations would be short-lived, though, as defender Jason Pearce halved the deficit for the visitors on the stroke of half time, heading home Lee Peltier's cross.

Despite scoring moments before the interval, Leeds struggled to carry their momentum into the second half, as Bryson came close to restoring his team's two-goal lead but his deflected effort sailed narrowly past the post.

Dominic Poleon spurned the opportunity to complete the comeback, before Hughes re-established daylight between the sides with a superb solo effort.

Hughes evaded a number of challenges, weaving into the area before dispatching a right-footed shot past Kenny to earn McClaren a winning start as the Rams boss.