Borja Sainz was the star of a controversial show as Norwich City beat Derby County 3-2 at Pride Park.

The Canaries registered consecutive wins for the first time under Johannes Hoff Thorup, taking their Championship tally to 11 points in the process.

But the victory wasn't without its drama, the first of Sainz's match-winning hat-trick the subject of angry refereeing debate.

City started poorly, and their hosts should have had the lead within two minutes. Former Ipswich attacker Kayden Jackson had the game's first real chance when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing found him in space, but connected poorly and dragged wide.

That appeared to wake Thorup's men up, and before long they were in the ascendancy. Jose Cordoba was the first to gain a sight of goal, but he couldn't keep his header down.

The game quickly quietened from there, a holding pattern setting in and the pace of play decreasing. Sainz hit a low half-volley and Kenzo Goudmijn had a shot from distance, but neither found their desired target.

Just when it looked like that pattern would continue into the break, Sainz found the opener. It came in controversial circumstances, Sargent's assist out of play according to the Rams, but the goal stood.

That meant Derby had to chase the game as the second half, and 16 minutes into it they equalised. Craig Forsyth was the beneficiary of Curtis Nelson's knock-down, firing low past Angus Gunn to reward a strong home response.

It didn't take long for City to respond, however, another inspired individual moment from Sainz making it 2-1. This time he picked the ball up from McLean 30 yards out, carrying the ball into the box and smashing into the far corner.

It took nearly 20 minutes for Paul Warne's side to come close to an equaliser, but when they did it was within inches. Gunn could only watch as Eiran Cashin's long-ranger looped over his head, but was relieved when it bounced off the crossbar and behind for a corner.

Any worries he still had were apparently seen to when Sainz completed his hat-trick, tapping in at the end of a rapid counter, but Corey Blackett-Taylor's late strike complicated things.

Norwich were able to see out a series of set-pieces to retain their lead, however, claiming a valuable three points on the road.

DERBY COUNTY:


Substitutes:

31. Vickers (GK)

2. Wilson (on for Nyambe, 71)

5. Bradley

9. Collins (on for Yates, 81)

12. Phillips

18. Harness (on for Mendez-Laing, 71)

27. Blackett-Taylor (on for Adams, 81)

28. Chirewa (on for Osborn, 71)

39. Brown

Head Coach: Paul Warne

Bookings: Forsyth (21), Chirewa (77), Goudmijn (80)

Goals: Forsyth (60), Blackett-Taylor (90+1)

NORWICH CITY:


Substitutes:

12. Long (GK)

3. Stacey (on for Fisher, 78)

5. Hanley (on for Doyle, 88)

14. Chrisene (on for Crnac, 77)

18. Forson (on for Sainz, 88)

20. Slimane (on for Schwartau, 58)

21. Gordon

40. Hills

41. Forsyth

Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup

Bookings: Duffy (24), Cordoba (90+5)

Goals: Sainz (45+3, 65, 87)

KEY MOMENTS

2 - Jackson has space at the back post and should score, but his tame effort rolls well wide.

9 - Nunez's corner finds Cordoba with the goalkeeper in no man's land, but he can't keep his header down.

26 - Goudmijn's long-range effort flies well over.

32 - The ball breaks for Sainz on the edge of the box, and he drives a half-volley wide of the far post.

36 - Sainz's looping improvised effort is tipped over by Widell Zetterstrom.

45+1 - Cashin's excellent last-ditch diversion denies Sargent a tap-in.

45+3 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sargent's first attempt is denied but he reacts quickly to find Sainz, who flicks into the empty net. The home players claim the ball was out, but the goal is allowed.

Half time: Derby County 0-1 Norwich City

53 - Mendez-Laing charges into the Norwich box and shoots, but Duffy's block denies him.

58 - Nelson rises highest from a corner, heading wide.

59 - Adams dispossesses McLean on the edge of the box and shoots, but sees his effort deflected wide.

60 - GOAL DERBY (Forsyth): Nelson knocks Mendez-Laing's corner down for Forsyth, who fires low beyond Gunn to equalise.

65 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sainz drives from 30 yards out into the Derby box, driving low into the far corner for his second.

84 - Cashin thumps the bar with his long-range effort.

86 - Gunn does well to palm Goudmijn's free-kick away.

87 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Norwich counter rapidly after Slimane sets Sargent away. He tees up Sainz, who taps in for his hat-trick.

90+1 - GOAL DERBY (Blackett-Taylor): Blackett-Taylor glides into the box under little challenge and finds the bottom corner.

90+4 - Gunn pulls off an unbelievable save to deny Jackson.

Full time: Derby County 2-3 Norwich City

PLAYER RATINGS

Gunn 8, Fisher 8, Duffy 8, Cordoba 7, Doyle 7, McLean 6, Nunez 7, Schwartau 6, Crnac 6, Sainz 9, Sargent 8. Subs: Slimane 7, Chrisene 6, Stacey 6, Hanley 6, Forson 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 42pc-58pc

Shots: 15-8

On target: 5-4

Corners: 9-5

Fouls: 13-7

Added time: 5 mins/6 mins

Attendance: 28,915

Referee: Oliver Langford