STEVE McCLAREN has been sacked by Derby County for the second time in less than two years.

The 55-year-old former England manager returned to the club last October, following his May 2015 dismissal, but a wretched run of results has ended his second spell.

"Derby County has parted company with manager Steve McClaren with immediate effect," the Sky Bet Championship club said in a statement.

McClaren's five months in charge ended in the wake of Friday's 3-0 loss at automatic promotion-chasing Brighton.

The Rams have won once in nine league matches since the turn of the year – against Barnsley on March 4 – and are 10 points adrift of a play-off place with nine games remaining.

Chairman Mel Morris said: "Steve is a great coach, we have very talented players and first class facilities but the heartbeat, commitment, focus and passion has been lacking something fundamental.

"The Brighton game on Friday night was so far from what we expect to see from those wearing a Derby County shirt."

The club statement pointed to the miserable run of form.

"Since the turn of the year we have experienced a significant, unexpected and persistent decline in results, team unity and morale," it added.

"Our form over the last 10 games would place us above the relegation group by goal difference alone.

"The club expects to make an announcement in relation to Steve's successor in the next few days."

Bookmakers made former Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett, who played for Derby, an early favourite for the job.

Derby, who next face rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday, also announced the departures of assistant manager Chris Powell and technical director Chris Evans.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, praised his side for "winning ugly" against Burnley in yesterdays Premier League encounter.

The Reds came from behind to win 2-1 after Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can found the net to negate Ashley Barnes scoring the Clarets' first goal at Anfield since 1975.

It extended Burnley's woeful away record to 12 defeats and two draws on the road but helped Liverpool overcome their troubles against bottom-half sides, against whom all their five league losses have come this season.

"It is the first ugly game we won. We all have to get used to it a little bit. Usually when we are not at our best we have lost," said Klopp.

"We usually win good games, but the bad games and the average games we need to be challenging too. We were today."

Son Heung-min's hat-trick, meanwhile, fired Tottenham into the FA Cup semi-finals but their 6-0 demolition of Millwall was marred by racist chants towards the South Korean from visiting supporters.

Harry Kane also limped off injured in the sixth minute at White Hart Lane after appearing to hurt his right ankle but even without their star striker, Spurs, and Son, blew their League One opponents away.

Son's treble was particularly fitting given the South Korean was subjected to abuse from Millwall supporters.

The visiting fans sang "DVD" and "You're selling three for a fiver" at the 24-year-old during the first half, thought to be referring to traders of bootleg copies of films.

Christian Eriksen, Kane's replacement, broke the deadlock before Son netted either side of half-time.

Dele Alli added a fourth and there was even time for Vincent Janssen to grab his first Tottenham goal from open play before Son hit his third late on.

Spurs will now await today's draw for the semi-finals where they can meet Manchester City, Arsenal or the winners of Chelsea and Manchester United, who play today.