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Dawkins scored twice for Derby to take his tally for the season to three goals

Derby produced a stunning comeback to overcome Championship rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage and reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

Derby gifted Fulham a 2-0 lead by twice losing possession to Moussa Dembele, who produced two neat finishes.

But Chris Martin's penalty and Johnny Russell's finish brought County level before Simon Dawkins drove them ahead.

Close-range finishes from Jeff Hendrick and Dawkins made it five away goals in 20 minutes to seal the Derby win.

It was a remarkable period that further demonstrates the strength of a Derby side who sit top of the Championship table.

However, for much of the first half, the focus was more on the deficiencies of Steve McClaren's side as a shocking back-pass from Craig Forsyth allowed Dembele to collect, round keeper Kelle Roos and score, before Omar Mascarell's hesitancy at the back allowed the same player to nip in and slot home.

But Martin's penalty in first-half added time, which was awarded when Tim Hoogland handled in the box, was perfectly timed to give the away side a lift and after the break they never looked back.

Dawkins' first goal - a stunning drive into the top corner from 20 yards to give his side the lead following Russell's close-range leveller - was the pick of Derby's quintet and also knocked the fight out of Fulham.

Fulham had won five of the nine games caretaker boss Kit Symons has been in charge for prior to this but their confidence remains fragile and County capitalised to register a second-successive five-goal tally against the Cottagers.

Fulham caretaker manager Kit Symons: "We scored two tonight so that's progress.

"In the first half we were well and truly in it, but the goal on the stroke of half-time gave Derby a huge lift and top teams don't need lifts like that.

"We nullified them in the first half but the second half was a different story and Derby punished us."

Derby manager Steve McClaren: "The goal just before half-time gave us a lifeline.

"And at half-time the players wanted to do something about it.

"The second half was more like us, we showed good character and played some good football. It was a devastating period."