CHRIS Martin went from villain to hero as Derby County won 2-0 against Bolton Wanderers.
Martin had an early penalty saved but the striker atoned for his miss with both goals at the Macron Stadium.
The Rams thoroughly deserved their victory and it means Steve McClaren's men are now unbeaten in eight matches, while the pressure mounts on Bolton boss Dougie Freedman.
Skipper Richard Keogh made a goal-saving intervention in the third minute, blocking Joe Mason's attempt to convert Liam Feeney's right-wing cross.
But Derby had started well and were awarded a penalty when Craig Bryson was tripped in the area by Mason.
Martin stepped up but his ninth-minute spot kick was kept out by Andy Lonergan, diving away to his right.
Lee Grant was called into action after a quarter of an hour, getting down to turn Mason's effort around his near post following a ball in from Lee Chung-Yong.
The home side wanted a penalty, for handball, when Zak Whitbread got in the way of Feeney's shot but referee Mark Brown waved play on.
At the other end, Will Hughes saw his shot saved by Lonergan after Martin's chip to the back post had been headed clear by former Derby defender Dean Moxey.
Jamie Ward sent a curling shot narrowly wide on the half-hour after exchanging passes with Hughes from the right.
Jordon Ibe, making his first league start for the Rams, then almost picked out Ward in the middle, only for Lonergan to get a vital touch on the ball.
The visitors went ahead in the 38th minute when Keogh did well to latch onto a crossfield pass from Bryson and fed Cyrus Christie on the right.
Christie delivered a low centre which was neatly finished first-time by Martin from six yards.
Derby were on top and that continued into the second half.
Ibe forced Lonergan into a save at his near post, from a tight angle.
Moments later, Derby won back possession from a Bolton goal kick and the ball was squared to the unmarked Martin, who gleefully lashed a shot into the net from 12 yards.
Three pitch invaders from the home end - amid calls for Freedman's head - broke up the rhythm of the game but it did not matter too much to the Rams.
Ibe's cross-shot from the left might have crept inside the far post but for the fingertips of Lonergan in the 73rd minute.
Bolton had the ball in the net three minutes from time but Joe Mason was adjudged to have handled before firing past Grant.
Derby finished strongly and substitute Johnny Russell might have added a third late on, only to lose his footing after going around Lonergan.
BOLTON WANDERERS: Lonergan, McNaughton, Mills, Dervite, Moxey, Garvan (C Davies, 59), Spearing, M Davies, Chung-Yong (Danns, 65), Feeney, Mason. Other subs: Kenny (gk), Ream, Pratley, Medo, Beckford.
DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Christie, Keogh Whitbread, Forsyth, Eustace, Hughes, Bryson, Ward (Best, 89), Ibe (Russell, 76), Martin. Other subs: Roos (gk), L Naylor, Shotton, Mascarell, Calero.
REFEREE: M Brown (East Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 15,006 (2,193 away fans).
