Derby County turned on the style to make it three wins from four in the Championship with a comprehensive 5-3 victory over Preston North End this evening.

After falling behind to Jon Parkin's early strike the Rams were on level terms by the interval thanks to Billy Jones' own goal.

Kris Commons put Derby ahead early in the second half but Chris Sedgwick equalised soon afterwards, but two goals from Rob Hulse and a Shaun Barker header made sure the points were Derby's although Chris Brown did pull a late goal back for the Lillywhites.

For the fourth game in succession manager Nigel Clough was able to name an unchanged starting line-up, with Rob Hulse coming off his sickbed to start in attack.

There was just one change on the bench for Derby, with recent acquisition from Millwall David Martin back in the squad after missing the FA Cup tie with Birmingham on Saturday as he was cup-tied.

Derby showed their intent to attack from the off by creating an opening inside the first minute but Commons couldn't get sufficient power in his shot from Hulse's cut-back and Lonergan saved easily.

The early pressure was coming from Derby and only a goal-line clearance from Coutts denied Buxton his second goal of the season with after meeting Commons' deep corner at the far post.

But with their first attack on ten minutes, Preston drew first blood.

A long ball over the top picked out the run of Parkin, who controlled the ball on his chest before lashing a low right-foot effort beyond Bywater on one swift movement for his tenth goal of the campaign.

Derby tried not to let that early blow rock them, and they Commons forced Lonergan into a smart save with a powerful free-kick from thirty yards which the goalkeeper palmed away.

A stretching Pearson at the far post should almost drew Derby level on eighteen minutes, but he couldn't get a clean connection on Hunt's low cross from the right.

The pressure was coming from Derby and importantly the crowd were sticking with them, creating a positive atmosphere around the stadium.

Longergan in the Preston goal was having an inspired night between the posts and twice in a matter of minutes either side of the half hour he kept out efforts from Commons inside the area as the Rams continued to pile on the pressure.

Ten minutes before the break though, the Preston goalkeeper was finally between as the Rams deservedly hauled themselves back onto level terms.

Green controlled a Hunt cross into the area superbly on his chest and lashed a volley goalwards which Longergan kept out, but the ball rebounded back off Preston defender Jones and trickled into the back of the net.

The waves of Derby attacks kept coming and McEveley let fly with an unstoppable effort from all of 35 yards which crashed back off the crossbar and away to safety with Lonergan beaten.

On a rare foray forwards Preston almost retook the lead but Parkin's header crashed back off the bar in the final opportunity of the first period.

The Rams were quick out of the traps in the second period and were camped inside the Preston half, putting the visitors on the back foot and Lonergan had to be alert to keep out Buxton's header at point-blank range.

A minute later though, that pressure told as Derby took the lead. Another corner into the Preston area had the visitors in all sorts of danger and Commons was on hand six yards out to lash home on the volley his second goal in three matches.

Preston almost hit back with an immediate equaliser but Parkin blasted straight at Bywater from eighteen yards out.

Just after the hour Preston had their equaliser as Sedgwick latched onto a loose ball inside the box to keep his composure and slot past Bywater to make it 2-2.

Derby however simply dusted themselves down and within a minute they were back in front as Hulse neatly turned his marker inside the box to lash a superb right-foot effort past Lonergan to take his season's tally to nine.

The big frontman was so close to making it ten for the campaign a few moments later with a diving header from McEveley's cross, but he couldn't beat Lonergan.

On sixty-eight minutes Derby extended their lead to 4-2 as Commons' excellent delivery from the left was met by the head of Barker, who guided his effort superbly in off the far post for this third goal in Derby colours.

The two-goal advantage was something Derby chased all evening to give them some breathing space, and Barker's goal seemed to allow the Rams to be more settled in their play.

A fifth goal duly followed with fifteen minutes left when Lonergan was unable to keep hold of a cross and Hulse was onto the ball quick as a flash to take his season's tally into double figures..

In injury time the visitors pulled a goal back through Chris Brown from close range, but it was too little too late.

With confidence breezing through the side, Derby are back in action at Pride Park on Saturday against Swansea City.