Derby County are still in search of their first away victory of the campaign after a 6-1 defeat at Cardiff City this evening.

Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra had the home side two goals to the good at the interval but Rob Hulse reduced the deficit within two minutes of the second period for the Rams.

Chopra however completed his hat-trick with a quick-fire brace around the hour and Chris Burke added a fifth soon afterwards.

Chopra wasn't finished and he added the sixth goal with fifteen minutes still to play.

Lee Hendrie and Fredrik Stoor made their first Derby County starts, coming in for James Vaughan and Paul Connolly.

Vaughan was named on the bench as Nigel Clough opted to go with the 4-5-1 formation that served the Rams well in the early stages of the season with Rob Hulse leading the line.

Hendrie slotted into the middle of the park while Stoor slotted straight in at right-back replacing the injured Paul Connolly, missing his first game of the season.

Derby were without as many as nine players, and as a result Clough had just six substitutes to choose from on the bench.

It was Cardiff's first-ever evening game at their new stadium under the floodlights after their move from Ninian Park in the summer.

After a bright start the home side broke the deadlock after just ten minutes.

A ball over the top found Bothroyd down the right and he advanced into the area and laid the ball on a plate for Peter Whittingham to slot into an empty net from four yards out.

Derby's claims for offside against Bothroyd were waved away, and only a second look at the DVD will tell whether or not their appeals were legitimate.

Rocked by that early setback Derby took a few minutes to settle and had their first attempt on goal after fifteen minutes but Stoor blasted high and wide from twenty-five yards.

Hendrie came close to equalising just before the half-hour mark with a twenty-yard volley which was superbly blocked by the body of Hudson after Croft's excellent cross was only hacked away into his path.

Derby were dealt a further injury blow to their depleted numbers on the half-hour when Dean Leacock - three games back after ten months out injured - pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Jay McEveley.

Six minutes later the Bluebirds doubled their lead when Michael Chopra slid the ball into the net from six yards out after Mark Kennedy's deep cross picked out his run.

It could have been worse in a half to forget for the Rams had Bywater not made a superb stops to deny Chopra and Bothroyd.

Those saves proved to be crucial as Nigel Clough's side came out for the second half inspired and they quickly pulled a goal back to give them a fighting chance of taking something from the game.

Hendrie's cross found Hulse six yards out and he held off the attentions of a Cardiff defender to guide the ball past Marshall in the Cardiff goal for his second goal of the campaign.

Nerves quickly spread around the Cardiff City Stadium and Derby found themselves on top.

Hulse had an opportunity to equalise on fifty-three minutes from Lee Croft's right-wing delivery but his downward header landed into the grateful arms of Marshall.

Cardiff were still a threat going forwards and Burke was inches away from restoring their two-goal cushion after Kennedy delivered another dangerous cross towards the far post.

Their two-goal lead was however restored by Chopra on fifty-eight minutes as Chopra found time space inside the box to crash the ball into the net.

Hulse came close to pulling a goal back immediately with a powerful shot from outside the area but Marshall dived to his right to push the ball behind for a corner kick.

It was another crucial turning point for the home side, as within two minutes Chorpa found space in behind the Rams backline and he delicatly lifted the ball over the onrushing Bywater to complete his hat-trick and notch Cardiff's fourth.

It went from bad to worse for Derby as straight from the kick-off Chris Burke embarked on a mazy run from just inside the Rams half and was given time and space to drill the ball into the net barely a minute later.

Ben Pringle replaced Lee Croft for Derby with twenty minutes to go and the youngster twice came close to getting on the end of crosses into the Cardiff area within a matter of minutes of being on the pitch.

Gary Teale almost made it 5-2 but his shot from twelve yards was deflected wide by a Cardiff defender following a corner.

Straight up the other end the deadly Chorpa made it six for the home side when a through-ball picked out his run and he kept his composure to thrash the ball past Bywater.

It was almost seventh heaven late on for the home side but Bothroyd's long-range effort was wide of the mark.

Dickov replaced Hulse with ten minutes to go and those final ten minutes whittled down with a number of Cardiff substituions.

Without any question it was a night to forget for Derby, and they must quickly dust themselves down and show a response in their final game before the interantional break on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday.

Cardiff City: Marshall, Kennedy, Rae (Scimeca 86), Hudson, Whittingham, Chopra (Magennis 89), Bothroyd, McPhail (Taiwo 83), Burke, Gerrard, Matthews
Subs Not Used: Enkleman, Hyepes, Quinn, Comminges
Goals: Whittingham (10), Chopra (36, 57, 62 & 75), Burke (63)

Derby County: Bywater, Stoor, Barker, Leacock (McEveley 30), Moxey, Croft (Pringle 70), Savage, Livermore, Hendrie, Teale, Hulse (Dickov 80)
Subs Not Used: Deeney, Vaughan, Mendy
Bookings: Livermore
Goals: Hulse (47)

Referee: Mr S A Hooper

Attendance: 18,670