Report, highlights and reaction: Derby County 5-0 Morecambe

The Shrimps slipped back into the relegation zone after a 5-0 defeat against Derby at Pride Park in League One.

Veteran striker David McGoldrick’s hat-trick, and goals from James Collins and Jason Knight completed a miserable afternoon for Derek Adams’ men.

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The Rams created the first opening of the afternoon when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired in a dangerous ball form the right which was tipped away by Shrimps' goalkeeper Connor Ripley.

Morecambe’s first effort came five minutes later when Arthur Gnahoua found some space on the edge of the Derby penalty area, with his long-range effort being fired over the crossbar..

The visitors were coping well to keep the hosts at bay, before they took the lead on the stroke of half time. Hourihane played a free-kick short to McGoldrick who curled his effort into the bottom-right corner.

Morecambe were then hit with two goals with five minutes of the second half.

The Rams doubled their lead a minute after the break a cross from the left fell to Mendez-Laing on the right of the penalty area who squared the ball to McGoldrick who flicked home from six yards.

County were awarded a penalty minutes later when James Collins went down under Dynel Simeu’s challenge, with McGoldrick converting emphatically to complete his hat trick.

Ripley made an excellent save to deny Derby their fourth with half an hour to play when he kept out McGoldrick’s effort from close range, before the hosts made it 4-0, when James Collins converted Derby’s second penalty of the afternoon, awarded when Farrend Rawson brought down McGoldrick.

Three minutes later, Craig Forsyth found Jason Knight in the area, and the midfielder showed neat feet to find space, before rolling the ball into the bottom-right corner.

The result leaves Morecambe 21^st in the table, ahead of the visit of bottom club, Forest Green Rovers to the Mazuma next Saturday.