All too three-sy for deadly Dave

DAVID NUGENT repaid the faith of boss Gary Rowett with a hat-trick against Fulham.

The Derby chief has fielded an unchanged side for three games since taking charge at Pride Park and the striker has now scored four goals for his new boss.

Nugent (below) opened the scoring after eight minutes as the Rams struck on the break after Stefan Johansen’s free-kick had rebounded off the wall.

Marcus Olsson picked out the forward’s run and he coolly lobbed the ball over Cottagers keeper David Button.

Despite the setback Fulham dominated play and Floyd Ayite put the visitors on level terms as he fired a low shot in at the near post after Ryan Fredericks had seen his cross only half-blocked. But Derby hit back quickly with Matej Vydra winning a penalty that Nugent took and Button saved superbly.

He was not to be denied though as he scored from the resulting corner three minutes before the break. Fulham’s defence went to sleep as Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce both won headers before Nugent volleyed home.

The striker then robbed Tim Ream and got the better of Button to complete his hat-trick just short of the hour.

And the keeper gifted Derby a fourth moments later as he threw the ball to Johnny Russell, who gratefully fired home.

Ayite reduced the defecit in the closing stages but the game was long gone.