Borja Sainz has now scored seven goals this season
A controversial but brilliantly taken backheeled goal from hat-trick hero Borja Sainz helped Norwich City end Derby County's unblemished record at home this season.
The Spaniard flicked home the contentious effort in first-half injury time, finishing from point-blank range after the match officials failed to spot the ball was out of play when Josh Sargent cut it back from the byeline.
And while Derby's Craig Forsyth levelled with a neat first-time finish to mark his 300th league appearance for club, Sainz immediately restored Norwich's lead with a fierce effort from the edge of the box.
Eiran Cashin then smashed the crossbar with a swerving shot for Derby, whose pursuit of a late leveller eventually led to Sainz completing his treble before Corey Blackett-Taylor set up a tense finish with an injury-time goal for the Rams.
Sainz’s goals were the first scored at Pride Park by a visiting team in the Championship this season, with the Rams dropping points for the first time at home in 10 games dating back to late February when they were in League One.
The defeat leaves Derby mid-table at the end of a week in which it was revealed that Rams owner David Clowes has been in talks with potential investors to help fund the East Midlands club’s aspirations to return to the Premier League.
Derby boss Paul Warne insisted speculation about the future ownership of the Rams would not distract his side, which put in another resolute - if ultimately unrewarded - performance.
Kayden Jackson wasted a huge chance to give the hosts an early lead, side-footing his close-range effort wide after meeting an inviting low cross that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing bent into the box with the outside of his boot.
Sainz was Norwich’s biggest first half-threat, as the Spaniard forced Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to palm a miscued attempt over the bar just minutes after he sent a skimming low shot just wide of the post.
And while Derby’s Cashin ensured Sargent was not presented with a tap-in finish as the first-half ticked into injury time, the American was able to carve out the controversial chance for Sainz to break the deadlock when Marcelino Nunez stole the ball from Mendez-Laing.
Sargent had an initial cross blocked by Cashin, but he kept his footing and chased the ball as it crossed the byeline and hooked it back for Sainz to flick home.
Television replays showed the ball had run dead, with home fans making their frustrations clear as a cacophony of boos rang around the ground at half-time.
Forsyth gave the Rams faithful reason to roar in delight on the hour mark, slamming the ball home after Curtis Nelson nodded a deep Mendez-Laing corner back across goal.
Their joy was short lived, however, as Sainz punished the Rams for their inability to close him down as he carried the ball towards the area.
In a thrilling finish, Cashin clattered the woodwork for Derby before Sainz finished off a counter attack, which once again started with the ball appearing to run over the byeline at the other end of the pitch.
Blackett-Taylor gave Derby renewed hope with his first goal for the club, and it took a brilliant save from Angus Gunn to deny Jackson what would have been a 94th-minute equaliser.
Derby boss Paul Warne:
“Would I like to see it (VAR) after today? Of course. But I don’t know. I just think the game is getting more and more complicated.
“We are talking about inches here and there but even though I would have liked it today, you could argue our second goal was offside. If you do have VAR, it is still someone’s opinion."
(After Derby's second goal) “I thought ‘here we go,’ it was like a game from the 1980s. I was going to send the goalkeeper up and I thought we were going to score a third but when it’s not your day, it’s not your day.”
Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Borja Sainz is a great finisher and gets himself in so many good positions.
"There are also moments in the game when I am not pleased (with him), he gave the ball away too easy, but it's important for us that we have that threat up front.
"There were also two assists from Josh (Sargent), which is as important as scoring goals, and we are the first team to score just one goal on this pitch this season, and we did three which I'm happy about.
"It's difficult against teams who invest so much in set-piece situations and you really have to be strong in that area of the game. "
