Carlton Morris's hat-trick means has taken his goal tally to eight this season
Carlton Morris scored the first hat-trick of his career as he fired Derby County to a convincing victory against Championship strugglers Sheffield United.
It is the second time in as many weeks that Morris produced Derby's decisive goals, as his winner against Queens Park Rangers seven days earlier was followed up with his treble at Bramall Lane.
The striker opened the scoring with a glancing header in the 24th minute then pounced on a poor back pass immediately after the break to make it 2-0 with a coolly dinked finish over Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper.
He made it three from the penalty spot after Alex Matos handled the ball in the area.
And while Callum O'Hare pulled a goal back for United in the 73rd minute, Derby's most comprehensive win of the season lift John Eustace's Rams up to 17th in the table.
It also took them eight points clear of United, whose second successive loss - after managing back-to-back wins in mid-October - has them languishing third-from-bottom after 13 games.
Morris compounded what has been a miserable start to the Blades' season breaking the first-half deadlock with a glancing header from a Joe Ward corner.
Ben Brereton Diaz went close to doubling the visitors' advantage against the side he featured on loan for last season, but the Chile international was denied by goalkeeper Cooper.
A fine tackle from Matt Clarke on Callum O'Hare inside the box just before the break ensured the Rams held a slender half-time lead.
An aimless backpass from Sydie Peck gifted Morris the chance to pickpocket possession to score his second of the afternoon a minute after the restart.
The former Luton Town, Norwich City and Barnsley forward then made it a milestone afternoon with a successful spot-kick to complete the first hat-trick haul of a career that has spanned 11 years and 10 different clubs.
He would go on to be substituted off to wild cheers from the Derby fans late on, but not before O'Hare had grabbed a consolation goal for the hosts after meeting a long throw into the box before wriggling into space to score.
Eustace hails hat-trick hero Morris - reaction
Wilder: 'We've not defended well enough'
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We are killing ourselves. We get in at half-time and the game was going to be the game we thought – counter-attack, Carton Morris, into Carlton Morris, off Carlton Morris.
"That is the way they play, and it's no criticism because I'd rather be their manager tonight than ours.
"They have not really had to work hard for all three of their goals. And we never get gifts like that - a free header inside the six yard box, we never get that clear cut chance that they got [for Morris' second] and it would be nice to get something regarding the penalty decision that they got.
"We have to go again, keep trying harder and keep working harder during the week. I don't think we are a million miles off winning games and being a decent side, but really it's a step back in terms of results over the past two games."
John Eustace post-Sheffield United (A)
Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
"It was a really good performance from the lads. They were fantastic and their attitude from the first minute was very good.
"You can see that we are building and growing in the right way."
On Morris and his hat-trick: "Since he has come in, he has been exceptional. He is a top professional and real mentor to the rest of the group.
"He is a top leader and top player. At 29 we have got a real top performer and the recruitment in the summer to get him was exceptional. He has got a real big part to play from now until the end of the season."
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