Town's reserves ended a Derby County reserves unbeaten record of 22 consecutive home wins going back to September 2000 with a 3-0 win at the Baseball Ground this evening. Inevitably Darren Bent was on the scoresheet.

Town went ahead after six minutes through Pablo Couñago's fourth reserve goal of the season, and his first not against Wimbledon. The Spaniard had won the ball from a hesitant defender before bringing the ball forward and finishing.

Pablo scored his second from a Martijn Reuser cross in the 36th minute. The Dutchman crossed from the left towards Pablo and he just got a touch with the ball nestling in the corner of Derby keeper Lee Grant's net.

With ten minutes left on the clock Darren Ambrose got away down the right and sent in a ball to Darren Bent who finished well for Town's third. That was Bent's 18th reserve team goal of the season, ten more than his nearest challengers, Adam Bolder of Derby and Chelsea's Carlton Cole.

The Blues remain in third place in the table, but look an increasingly good bet to win the league.

FA Premier Reserve League (South)
P W D L F A Pts
Derby Res 21 13 4 4 44 26 43
Arsenal Res 22 12 5 5 39 21 41
Ipswich Res 19 12 4 3 41 20 40
Southampton Res 20 10 4 6 32 19 34
Fulham Res 20 10 3 7 41 26 33

Photo: Action Images

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