Two goals in the first half and another in the second saw Derby County fall to a bruising 3-0 defeat to title-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion on the south-coast.

Anthony Knockaert got the ball rolling as early as the fifth minute, before Sam Baldock added a second moments before the half time whistle to cap off a dominant showing over the first 45 minutes for the Seagulls.

The closest the Rams came to scoring was through Matěj Vydra’s header that hit the post shortly after the hour mark, but Glenn Murray’s close range finish added gloss to the scoreline as Brighton went level on points with Newcastle United at the top of the Sky Bet Championship, whilst Derby remain 10 points adrift of the play-off positions.

A massive three points for the hosts for sure, but Albion’s display on the night was what Chris Hughton would have been impressed with the most.

Back to winning ways in midweek, following their 2-0 victory over Rotherham United, the Seagulls were soaring over the first half on the south-coast, with their opening goal in the fifth minute laying down the foundation for a dominant showing.

The goal could have come a minute before it did too after Jiří Skalák pulled a right footed shot narrowly wide after Brighton caught Derby in a three against three situation in the fourth minute.

Not heeding the warning, McClaren’s men fell behind shortly after as Knockaert bagged his 13th goal of the season. From the right, Bruno played a simple ball to the French wideman and after skipping past Julien de Sart, he pulled the trigger early, catching Scott Carson out at his near post and finding the bottom corner.

The Rams did have a quick chance to get back level, but Darren Bent, a one-time Albion loanee, headed Cyrus Christie’s teasing low centre over the crossbar with David Stockdale worried enough to attempt to tip the ball over.

That aside, Brighton, slick in possession and workman-like out of it, were dominant over a first half in which they registered 11 shots on Carson’s goal.

The hosts’ wideman, Skalák and Knockaert, were a menace and at the centre of all their good work going forward as Brighton continued to laid siege on Carson’s goal right up until the half time whistle.

Strong in general play, set pieces also proved to be another weapon in their armoury with Skalák’s dead balls proving to be a huge threat.

Glenn Murray rose highest to head one of his corners over the upright, whilst the Czech Republic international, later after a flowing move, fired wide with his second attempt of the night after cutting inside from the left once again.

Then it was Knockaert’s turn. He fed Baldock for a shooting chance for the first in a series of dangerous corners – one of which, from Skalák again, looped towards the far post and forced Carson to tip the ball behind from underneath his crossbar.

Later, Baldock forced Carson into a save after the half hour mark and Murray should have bagged his 18th goal of the season earlier than he eventually did from Skalák’s cross from the left.

Brighton had wasted a hatful of chances, but with it looking like the Rams would get into the break just a goal down, Hughton’s side struck a crucial second.

From the right, the ball was played to Baldock in the centre and after an exchange of passes with Murray, he was sent clear into the box with just Carson to beat. The forward, composed, placed the ball into the corner with an ice-cool finish.

Derby’s biggest period of threat came in the three minutes of added on time, but Stockdale, the Albion ‘keeper, was never troubled as Hughton’s side comfortably entered the break two goals to the good.

McClaren signalled his discontent by turning to his substitutes bench and made a double change, introducing Will Hughes and Craig Bryson for David Nugent and De Sart.

It worked to the extent that Brighton were far less dominant, but it took a fine save from Carson to make sure the lead did not extend to three on 54 minutes – the goalkeeper palming over Knockaert’s stinging shot from range after Baldock had knocked down Stockdale’s long kick down into his path.

The Rams’ best chance of the night came shortly after the hour mark. Vydra scored his third goal of the season in the midweek draw with Preston North End and the woodwork prevented him from netting against the Seagulls as he guided Christie’s cross onto the upright with Stockdale beaten.

Murray had gone close a few times over the course of the evening and killed off whatever hopes there were of a comeback for McClaren’s side by scoring a third goal with 12 minutes remaining.

He had, earlier, been denied by an excellent block from Chris Baird, but with a touch of fortune, he made the most of a ricochet off Carson to bundle in Knockaert’s floated cross from the left side to compound a night to forget on the south-coast for McClaren’s side.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Stockdale; Bruno (Tomori, 65), Huenemeier, Dunk, Rosenior; Knockaert (March, 82), Stephens, Kayal, Skalak; Murray (Hemed, 79), Baldock

Substitutes not used: Walton, Sidwell, Norwood, Akpom

Derby County: Carson, Christie, Baird, Pearce (C), Olsson; De Sart (Bryson, 46), Butterfield; Ince, Nugent (Hughes, 46), Vydra; Bent

Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Russell, Anya, Lowe, Bennett

Attendance: 27,552 (1,107 away supporters)