A hat-trick by Brazilian striker Junior gave Walsall victory over Derby in a five-goal thriller at the Bescot Stadium.

Walsall led 2-0 and 3-1 but Derby, despite being on the back foot for long periods, refused to lie down and gave the home side a run for their money despite having a penalty saved.

Walsall made an excellent start with a goal in the third minute. An outswinging corner from Vinny Samways was met by Junior, who headed home from close range for his 14th goal of the season.

Derby had a chance to equalise after 18 minutes when Craig Burley hammered a a fierce shot toward goal from 20 yards, only to see it blocked by Ian Roper.

Carl Robinson wasted a good chance to increase Walsall's lead when he shot over the crossbar from 25 yards.

Derby pushed forward as the half drew to a close and Tommy Mooney had a 35-yard shot blocked by Tony Barras while Fabrizio Ravanelli put a 20-yard free-kick wide on the stroke of half-time.

Walsall started the second half as they had the first, Junior collecting his second goal six minutes after the restart after he met Zigor Aranalde's cross to head home from close range

Derby clawed their way back into the game after 59 minutes. After a fierce Burley free-kick had been blocked, Simo Valakari hammered the ball home from 25 yards.

The Rams should have drawn level two minutes later when Roper fouled Izale McLeod in the area but Burley's penalty was saved by James Walker in the Walsall goal.

Junior almost immediately punished the Derby miss but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Paul Ritchie.

He made no mistake after 70 minutes, however, when he completed his hat-trick in sensational style with a superbly-struck shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Derby were not finished and with seven minutes to go Ravanelli pulled back another goal with a well-struck shot from 25 yards.

But Walsall finished the stronger to deservedly win a thrilling game.

Teams:

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Roper, Barras, Aranalde, Wrack (Matias 45), O'Connor, Samways (Simpson 79), Robinson, Leitao, Junior.

Subs Not Used: Ward, Corica, Zdrilic.

Booked: Roper.

Goals: Junior 3, 51, 70.

Derby: Grant (Camp 45), Ritchie, Mills, Mooney (Bolder 79), Jackson, Murray, Burley, Valakari, Boertien, McLeod, Ravanelli.

Subs Not Used: Evatt, Twigg, Palmer.

Booked: Murray, McLeod.

Goals: Valakari 59, Ravanelli 83.

Att: 8,416

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire).