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Five-star Derby go top after routing Wolves

London (AFP) - Derby swept to the top of the Championship with a 5-0 thrashing of Wolves at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.

Steve McClaren's side are determined to secure promotion to the Premier League to make amends for the pain of their last-gasp defeat in the play-off final against QPR last season.

On this evidence they have every chance of fulfilling that ambition.

Wolves had no answer to the movement and invention of the Rams as Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell both scored twice after Ryan Shotton headed the opener to give McClaren's team their biggest win since March.

Derby moved one point ahead of second placed Bournemouth and third placed Middlesbrough, who shared a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

A season-best crowd of 22,930 turned out for a clash between the division's two in-form teams.

But entertainment was in short supply, with the best effort coming when Middlesbrough's Adam Reach rattled the crossbar.

Tommy Smith's 83rd-minute goal was enough to earn Ipswich a 1-0 win over promotion rivals Watford at Portman Road.

Ipswich defender Smith hammered in from close-range after a well-worked free-kick as the hosts moved up to fourth above Watford, who lie one place behind Mick McCarthy's men.

Sixth-placed Brentford continued their surprising play-off push with a 3-2 victory at Millwall.

The hosts had special dispensation from the Football League to wear a camouflage kit, commemorating 100 years since the start of the First World War, but they found themselves 2-0 down after Brentford striker Andre Gray's double either side of half-time.

Millwall fought back with two goals in two minutes from Lee Gregory and Alan Dunne just before the hour mark.

But Danny Shittu's 66th minute own goal handed Brentford, back in the second tier for the first time since 1993, their third successive victory.

Two goals in the last five minutes from Britt Assombalonga and Michail Antonio helped Nottingham Forest end their torrid run of form with a 2-1 win over Norwich at the City Ground.

Stuart Pearce's team had looked destined for a 10th league game without a win after Jonny Howson's first-half strike.

Leeds ended an eight-game winless run and Neil Redfearn tasted his first victory as permanent manager as bottom of the table Blackpool were beaten 3-1 at Elland Road.

Gary Rowett's unbeaten start as Birmingham manager continued with a 0-0 draw against Cardiff at St Andrews.

Fulham climbed out of the bottom three with a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield as they extended their revival under Kit Symons.

Cottagers manager Symons, who was handed the full-time job last week, saw goals from Hugo Rodallega, Lasse Vigen Christensen and Ross McCormack destroy the Terriers.

Elsewhere, Charlton won 1-0 at Reading, Brighton drew 1-1 against Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday drew 0-0 with Rotherham.