Derby County 2-0 Cardiff City

Derby's George Thorne celebrates after scoring the opening goal at the iPro Stadium

Goals from George Thorne and Andreas Weimann gave Derby County victory over Cardiff City as the Rams moved up to fourth place in the Championship.

Midfielder Thorne smashed Chris Martin's lay-off into the bottom corner from 15 yards early in the second half.

Weimann doubled the advantage when he fired home from a tight angle after David Marshall parried Thorne's shot.

Cardiff, who have scored only 17 league goals from 17 games so far this season, had two shots on target.

Paul Clement's Derby, meanwhile, have won seven of their past nine league games and sit two points behind leaders Hull, with Cardiff in ninth.

Derby had 71% of possession in the first half, as former Aston Villa forward Weimann saw his powerful effort brilliantly saved by Marshall and Jacob Butterfield's 25-yard strike was also kept out by the Scotland goalkeeper.

Cardiff's best effort before the break saw South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi poke Kenwyne Jones' cutback wide.

The Rams started the second half brightly as Bradley Johnson's header from Butterfield's corner was cleared off the line.

Thorne eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break with a sweet strike from the centre of the area for his second goal of the season.

Austria international Weimann made sure of all three points with a clever finish from six yards before Jones summed up Cardiff's afternoon as he headed over from close range while unmarked.

Derby head coach Paul Clement: "I thought George Thorne was outstanding. He scored the goal but his overall performance was of a very high level.

"When he signed for this club within two or three days of him joining he had the injury and then when he came back he had other associated problems from being out for such a long period.

"But he's been working very hard with his physical condition and we are reaping the rewards of having him fit and playing regularly."

Cardiff boss Russell Slade: "It's always disappointing when you lose but I think we lost it to the better side.

"Sometimes you have to put your hands up and I thought Derby were very good today.

"We matched them for much of the first half but they double pressed us hard up the field in the second and unfortunately the two goals we conceded came from us having possession of the ball."