Derby County bounced back from their disappointing defeat against Charlton Athletic in emphatic style by beating Port Vale 3-0 at Pride Park.
A brace from Louie Sibley and Dwight Gayle’s first goal for the club secured what was an important three points for Paul Warne.
Following back-to-back defeats in the league, there were eyebrows raised over Warne’s tactics and doubts over their automatic promotion credentials.
However, the Derby players came out of the blocks fast today and completely dominated their struggling opponents, who failed to register a single shot on target in the match.
There were three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Charlton in midweek as Joe Ward, Sibley and Tom Barkhuizen all came in for Ryan Nyambe, Korey Smith and Kane Wilson with Warne switching back to a 3-4-3 system.
With Sibley and Ward playing as wing-backs, the duo terrorised Vale into submission down the flanks as Ward assisted his opposite number twice.
Joe Ward starred for Derby County vs Port Vale
After arriving from Peterborough United in the summer, a lot was expected of Ward, but up until his performance today, he had rarely shown much promise.
The 28-year-old has suffered from injury troubles and spells in and out of the side.
As a full-back, he was often exposed defensively, however, against Port Vale, he was given the license to get forward and that proved to be a masterstroke from Warne.
Ward found acres of space down the right and had the presence of mind to deliver two brilliant crosses into Sibley, who found the back of the net on both occasions.
The player that Derby fans saw today was the one they thought they were getting from Peterborough and now he’s taken his chance at the expense of Ryan Nyambe, who suffered an injury against Charlton, he now has to show consistent levels to his game.
Everyone knows the quality that the £7k-a-week star possesses from an attacking sense and operating as a wing-back instead of a full-back suited him down to the ground.
After the abysmal display on Tuesday night, Warne had a lot to answer for as supporters were beginning to get frustrated, however, on the evidence of today’s performances, the Rams have another gear they can go to in this promotion race.
They now have to take that display with them into the run-in and make a statement of intent to their League One rivals.