CHRIS Martin hailed Derby County's killer instinct in the 3-0 win over Reading.
Martin netted twice at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, with Jordon Ibe also on target as the Rams extended their unbeaten run to 11 games.
Derby were put under pressure by the home side for extended periods but held firm. while scoring at crucial times themselves.
"Reading caused us some problems and will probably feel a bit hard done by that it was 3-0 in the end, because it was quite tight for long periods," said Martin.
"But we were quite clinical in front of goal, which is always nice.
"We didn't play our best football. We've played much, much better than that and come away with less than that.
"That's the way it goes sometimes in the Championship - but you've got to take your chances when they come along and, luckily, we were able to do that.
"We still missed a few chances - I was partly to blame for that - but overall, we were quite clinical and it was a good team performance."

DERBY County are up to second in the Championship table thanks to a 3-0 victory away to Reading.
Two goals from Chris Martin and one from Jordon Ibe gave the Rams three points at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The result, as well as lifting them into an automatic promotion spot, extended Derby's unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions.
The visitors also registered a fifth successive clean sheet.
Steve McClaren's survived a scare inside the opening minute after John Eustace's intended backpass got caught under the feet of team-mate Zak Whitbread.
In an attempt to clear, Whitbread then lunged at Simon Cox, who went down in the area - but referee Darren Deadman waved away appeals for a penalty.
In the third minute, Cox slipped his marker to power a header just over from Hal Robson-Kanu's left-wing cross.
Derby's first chance came after eight minutes - Ibe's low centre was laid off by Martin to Craig Bryson and his powerful rising shot cleared the bar.
The visitors took the lead after 18 minutes.
Jamie Ward's floated corner from the right was met by Martin, whose downward header from six yards bounced past Robson-Kanu on the line and into the net.
Reading almost levelled 10 minutes later.
Jake Taylor's first-time drive from 20 yards was pushed out by Lee Grant into the path of Robson-Kanu but the Wales international's touch let him down and the ball rolled into the grateful arms of the keeper.
After 32 minutes, Taylor's cross from the right was headed into the side-netting by Glenn Murray, almost creeping inside Grant's near post.
Murray went even closer two minutes after that, glancing a header against the bar from an Oliver Norwood corner on the left.
The pressure was building on the Rams but they doubled their lead after 38 minutes.
Ibe combined well with Bryson before skipping past his man on the edge of the box and curling a low shot into the far corner from 10 yards.
Derby lost Ward to injury late in the half, leading to the introduction of Johnny Russell.
Reading finished the half strongly but the Rams held on to their two-goal lead.

I MUST take issue with your editorial comment " 'Challenging' kids must have a city home" (October 7). While your editorial may well be a fair reflection of your online commentators' views, it, for me, was a misrepresentation of the views of those people in Alvaston I have spoken to about this proposal.

No-one from Alvaston who has spoken to me regarding their concerns over the proposals of G4S were less than understanding of the need to look after vulnerable children.

The righteous concerns of local people was partly due to the way that G4S have handled this proposal. It has been done in a most cack-handed way. Not quite up to the level of disaster witnessed at the 2012 Olympics but very much in line with their reputation.

G4S are a 'for profit' organisation and have, as far as I can see, have very much approached this project in this way. We can so we will, seems to be their method of operation.

They could have spoken to the city council and the Derby Safeguarding Children's Board before they put in the planning application – they did not.

They could have contacted and had a conversation with the local ward councillors before they did anything – they did not.

They could have organised a local consultation event for the people of Alvaston who live near the proposed site – they have not.

They could have checked to see whether they needed a planning application for change of use – they did not. The city planners had to point this, their omission, out to them!

In your editorial you say, "If no care and attention is paid to problem children, they become problem adults". Something I would absolutely agree with and so would the people of Alvaston. But I have little confidence of this being delivered with G4S as a corporate parent, given the way G4S have treated the city and Alvaston residents with so little respect.

As for the location, maybe it is just me that next door but one to a nursery and opposite a pub is not the best place for this establishment to home challenging children.

Councillor Paul Bayliss

Labour Councillor for Alvaston ward

READING boss Nigel Adkins could turn to the emergency loan market in a bid to revive his team's fortunes following their 3-0 home defeat to Derby County.
The Royals are now without a win in six matches in all competitions and are 16th in the Championship table.
Goals from Chris Martin (2) and Jordon Ibe secured victory for the Rams at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
"It's a bad result," said Adkins.
"We've got to address the defending and I cannot go on saying 'we've done OK' when we've conceded three goals.
"The lads' attitude is top drawer but we can't carry on conceding three.
"Something has to happen. Whether it's personnel, the emergency loan market, it's something we've got to look at."
Adkins added: "We started brightly and were getting balls into the final third.
"But at 2-0 down, the whole complexion of the game changed.
"It's all about what you do in both penalty areas. You've got to be ruthless in one and resilient in the other.
"But for all the positive stuff going on for us, it's a bad scoreline.
"You can't hide away from that or gloss over it because it's about winning games of football.
"You can't concede the goals we've conceded. It's becoming a repetitive theme and we've got to sort it out."

REVAMP plans for Derby's crumbling Hippodrome Theatre have been given the go-ahead.

Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust now has permission from the city council to turn the ex-venue's Green Lane front-of-house into a coffee shop, with exhibition space on the first floor and offices and meeting space above.

But it now has a significant problem to overcome as it has not yet secured funding for the work.

Councillor Robin Wood, who was on the planning committee which made the unanimous decision, said issues around financing a project were nothing to do with the planning decision itself.

He said: "We should not stand in the way of people who want to do something positive with a listed building.

"Whether the trust has got the resources or not is quite another issue."

Under the terms of the permission, the trust has five years to start work.

Goals from Chris Martin (2) and Jordon Ibe gave the Rams three points at the Madejski Stadium.

The result sent Steve McClaren's men up to second in the Championship table.

Tonight's instalment pays attention to art expert Simon Bricker and Lady Cora. The pair have grown close in recent weeks, and their flirting reaches boiling point. She's enjoying the attention he's paying her, but it looks like he might be about to cross a line anytime soon...

Meanwhile, romance could be blossoming elsewhere too, as Cora's eldest child, Mary, is enjoying the company of Charles Blake, and he surprises her with a cunning plan to help her get exactly what she wants. It's on from 9pm to 10.05pm on ITV.

BELPER Town have appointed the interim management team of Jon Froggatt and Mark Ward on a permanent basis.
Froggatt and Ward have been in charge of the Nailers since the departure of previous boss Peter Duffield.
They won their first game but have since taken only one point from five matches and the team is rooted to the bottom of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division table.
"Although they've had a tough start to their management careers, the Board has been pleased with the way they have got the team playing," said club chairman Alan Benfield.
"We have seen some really attractive football but we have not really enjoyed the results that the performances have deserved.
"Jon and Mark have been working tirelessly to improve the strength of the squad and the arrival of Richard Adams, who has returned to the club from Goole, is testament to the hard work they are putting in.
"We received a significant number of applications for the job, including a number from some highly experienced managers, but the Board felt that we needed a period of stability within the club at the present time and we also wanted to give Jon and Mark more time to make an impression.
"It may regarded as a bit of a gamble in some quarters but although Jon and Mark do not have significant managerial experience, we are confident that they do have the knowledge and connections within the game to put together a successful team."

BURTON Albion manager Gary Rowett says his side must get their teeth back after the disappointing home defeat by Morecambe.

The loss dropped them to third in League Two and allowed the chasing pack to close right up on their heels.

Rowett is unhappy his side are failing to respond when they go behind.

"That bite has gone out of our game in the last six or seven," said the manager. "Sometimes you can understand the frustration of conceding a poor goal when really there's not an awful lot in the game.

"Last week I saw a game where Sheffield United scored two goals in the 90th minute and 93rd minute, so games are never dead. Games can turn on a sixpence.

"If we'd fought harder and showed a bit more quality and we'd nicked a goal at 2-1 down, we'd still be chasing the game with 10 minutes to go. I wouldn't have been too disappointed with that.

"I'm just disappointed that when we go a goal down games seem to peter out.

"That's been the frustrating thing and I've told them I'm not going to keep picking players on what they might do, they've got to show a little bit more."

Rowett thought there were better moments from some of his players – but needs to see more from certain individuals.

"We'll find the answer but it's a bit disappointing at the moment," he said. "I think one or two, when we're winning it's great, but they've got to stand up a little bit more when it's not going as well.

"I don't think everybody had a poor game – there were one or two decent performances.

"I thought Ian Sharps was very strong at the back and I thought Phil Edwards competed very, very well at the back.

"I thought Matty Palmer was very bright and Alex MacDonald stuck to his test very well."

SHANE Cansdell-Sherriff says Burton Albion need to improve fast as the chasing pack in League Two closes the gap.

The Brewers were the early-season pace-setters but the defeat by Morecambe was a blow.

"We started well but that's gone now and it's about now – we've come to an important part of the season," said the central defender.

"Fortunately enough, because we got a good start, it (the bad run) hasn't killed us and taken us back down the table 10 places.

"We've been fortunate enough to stay at the top but we need to put it right so we can carry on otherwise teams will catch up."

Cansdell-Sherriff bemoaned more poor defending from Albion as Morecambe grabbed two goals in two minutes.

"It's again silly mistakes," said the 31-year-old. "It's frustrating and annoying."

WHENEVER there is a particularly wintry day, motorists are always advised to stay off the road. But what about the people who are employed to drive in the snow?

Drivers who earn a living spreading rock-salt across icy surfaces face the dangers that most motorists go out of their way to avoid.

For the country's leading private gritting firm, Gritit, ensuring their drivers have adequate training is paramount – and that's why bosses sent staff to Donington Park to brush up on their skills.

The firm's managing director, Nikki Singh-Barmi, explained that the day was part of a rigorous training schedule its country-wide network of seasonal operators will go through.

He said: "When the guys walk in to Donington it really sets the scene and gives them a feel of the situations they're likely to find themselves in.

"It's something they're not going to get in a Powerpoint presentation, you can only get these skills by going out and experiencing it."

Activities on the day featured a session in specially adapted cars on Donington's "Tarmac Lake". The vehicles are raised and lowered on hydraulic cradles, simulating a loss of grip which is controlled by the instructor from inside.

By demonstrating what happens to a normal passenger car when the grip suddenly vanishes, the drivers are taught how to react and what to do to minimise a skid.

Groups of drivers were also taught the complex task of reversing a gritting vehicle towing a trailer. Cone "garages" were set up to navigate in and out of while experts looked on and advised.

Operators were also assessed on their driving skills on the open road, with monitored journeys through Castle Donington, and tips were given on handling the off-road vehicles in typical traffic.

The groups also sat through a presentation describing the dangers of winter driving and how to avoid them by proper care of their vehicles and basic driving tips.

A fifth activity saw the company's seasoned professionals taking operators round a cone course spreading salt.

Each activity was designed by a specialist event company and a team of instructors to give a flavour of some of the hazards Gritit operators might face as they take to the roads, car parks and runways of the UK in the depths of winter.

Operator Gurdip Singh says he is looking forward to his second season with the company.

The 39-year-old father-of-two, from Wolverhampton, spent his summer doing a milk round but says the gritting work suits him well.

He said: "It's a good job. I like working through the night as it gives me time in the day which I can spend with my kids.

"I guess some people wouldn't like working in the cold but it doesn't bother me. I just wrap up warm and put the heating on."

Gurdip's first season, the winter of 2013-14, started with headlines published in the national press that threatened "100 days of snow".

This would obviously have been music to his ears as 100 days of work can be very lucrative for a gritter driver. But the harsh winter never happened. In fact, it turned into one of the warmest and wettest winters on record.

Gurdip is hoping for a snowy winter this year and he said the training day would help him in hazardous conditions.

He said: "I thought the day was very informative. The skid pan was definitely the most fun but I've found it all very useful, especially the reversing."

Although it was difficult to stay busy for many of the operators last year, the air at Donington was filled with optimism that the headlines might be right this year and a harsh winter might be on the cards.

For commuters, a heavy snow fall might be their worst nightmare but for the operators at firms like Gritit, it's exactly what they train for.

A ROLLS-ROYCE engineer was handed a parking ticket despite her vehicle being stuck behind a police cordon during a chemical leak in Derby.

Gina Coventry had just left choir practice with the Sitwell Singers at St John's Church when she saw the cordon in place.

She said she asked officers to put a "police aware" sticker on her car, which was parked in Mill Street behind the police tape, knowing she would not be able to collect it until the next day when parking charges applied.

But when she returned the following day, she found the parking ticket on the windscreen.

She appealed to Derby City Council, which issued the £50 ticket, but it refused to budge, saying she should have arrived before charges applied to collect her car.

Now, after the 37-year-old contacted the Derby Telegraph, the council has agreed to waive the charges.

Miss Coventry, of Stenson Road, Derby, said: "This was a one-off occurrence and I left me utterly frustrated at the council's attitude towards what happened.

"This was a chemical leak that saw hundreds of people evacuated and a cordon put in place for hours and my car was behind that cordon.

"I could hardly have slipped under it, got in the car and driven off bearing in mind the serious situation that was happening.

"But the council wouldn't budge and I was left looking at having to pay it and get on with things.

"It was my 37th birthday last week.

"Some present the council handed to me."

Miss Coventry said she was surprised but delighted that the council had agreed to waive the fine.

She said: "I am relieved that the fine has been cancelled but it actually means as much to me that they have admitted the unfairness of their initial decision."

Police and the bomb squad were called to the leak on the evening of September 22 after a factory accidentally mixed a potentially explosive cocktail of chemicals.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from nearby streets, including students who had only moved into their halls of residence just hours before.

Mill Street, Bridge Street and Nuns Street were evacuated and police worked through the night to find alternative accommodation for students from Nunnery Court and Princess Alice Court halls of residence.

Miss Coventry, who works at Rolls-Royce's Moor Lane site, said a doctor's appointment and work commitments meant she was unable to collect her Toyota car until the afternoon of September 23 following the evacuations.

She said: "The ticket was on there so I wrote to the council appealing it and received what I felt was a snotty reply from them.

"In it they refused to accept this was an exceptional case and so I had no option but to pay up.

"I was unable to collect the car first thing due to a doctor's appointment and work commitments.

"The council have said even if the police had put a 'police aware' sticker on the car it would have held no standing with them and they would still have issued the fine.

"I just find this extraordinarily unfair given this was a unique situation."

A spokesman for Derby City Council, in response, said: "Miss Coventry's challenge was initially rejected as it was considered that she had sufficient time to collect her vehicle once the police had removed the cordon.

"However, on reflection, Derby City Council agrees that this was something of a unique situation and she was placed in a difficult position with regard to recovering her vehicle.

"This was outside of her control and consequently the council has arranged for the penalty charge notice to be cancelled."

VILLAGERS have been warned against removing an eyesore fly-tip in a Derbyshire field – because they could be prosecuted for fly-tipping.

People living in Aston-on-Trent had approached their parish council about putting together a work party to remove the rubbish on a field off Derby Road and leave it on the lane for South Derbyshire District Council to pick up.

The parish council then asked the district council for advice about clearing the fly-tip, which has been there for several months and includes rubble, tree cuttings, furniture and a freezer.

But parish council chairman Haydn Wheeler said he was told moving the waste would leave the work party open to being prosecuted for fly-tipping.

He said: "It's an eyesore and something needs to be done about it because it's growing. People think they can add more to it because there's rubbish already there."

David Armstrong, a Derby barrister and a consultant for councils on environmental crime, said the work party could have been prosecuted because they would be taking it off one person's land and fly-tipping it on another.

Mr Armstrong said: "It is a case of two wrongs don't make a right. The type of rubbish that is dumped there is not the type that the council would be clearing for free because it's not domestic waste."

A district council spokesman said the location had been used for fly-tipping before, most recently in February. He said the rubbish could pose a danger to the health of anyone who tried to clear it and that the work party could "unwittingly have committed an offence themselves".

He said: "In February, our wardens went out to investigate but found no evidence upon which further action could be taken.

"This time they discovered a substantial amount of waste, none of which poses a public health hazard, and we have some leads which we will be pro-actively pursuing.

"As the waste is on private land it is the landowner's responsibility to remove it. Therefore, our focus now is to get in touch with the landowner at the earliest opportunity to offer advice and support and to put them in touch with a recognised waste disposal expert.

"We will also bring to the landowner's attention any appropriate measures which can be taken to protect the land in the future."

The field is understood to be farmed by a Derbyshire-based tenant farmer but the landowner lives further away.

To sign a Derby Telegraph, Derby City Council and Normanton Empowerment Team petition calling for a change of law visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/68218.