Derby County saw a two-goal lead slip through their grasp as Queens Park Rangers came from 2-0 down to secure a 4-2 victory at Pride Park Stadium this evening.

Goals from Paul Dickov and Robbie Savage - their first goals of the season - had given Derby a 2-0 lead but Adel Tarrbat pulled a goal back for Jim Magilton's side before the interval and skipper Gavin Mahon levelled matters two minutes into the second half.

Jay Simpson put Rangers ahead for the first time just before the hour, crashing a low shot beyond into the net before Akos Buzskay completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the last minute.

The Rams made four changes to their line-up that started in the 2-0 midweek reverse at Middlesbrough.

Dean Leacock (Illness), Jay McEveley and Kris Commons (both injured) were ruled out and that meant recalls Fredrik Stoor, Lee Croft and Paul Dickov while there was a debut in the middle of the park for new loan signing from Hull City Bryan Hughes who came in for Jake Livermore who was on the bench.

Alongside Livermore on the bench were Steven Davies and Stephen Pearson, both back after weeks out injured while defender Jake Buxton was again available and amongst the seven subs.

In front of the watching nation it was the visitors who got the game underway on 'Wear White Night' with the supporters responding to the rallying cry from the Rams to turn Pride Park Stadium all-white by donning the free t-shirts handed out to every supporter in the ground.

Derby settled the better of the two sides and started confidently with new signing Hughes linking up well with Savage in the middle of the park, twice spraying the ball wide to Croft on the right to launch early attacks which came to nothing.

Rangers gave Derby an early scare when quick-footed Tarrabt picked out Buzsaky's intelligant run in behind the backline but his low cross towards Simpson inside the six-yard box was well claimed by Bywater off his line quickly.

After just nine minutes the majority of Pride Park were on the feet celebrating as the Rams drew first blood when the two most experiecned players in Nigel Clough's side combined to unlock the Rangers defence.

A quick free-kick by Savage played Dickov clear on goal, and from ten yards he crashed the ball home with a first-time strike beyond Cerny for his first goal in Derby colours since his loan switch from Leicester City two months ago.

It was richly deserved after a strong start by the Rams with the Derby faithful in full voice and right behind them.

Derby could have gone further ahead on eighteen minutes but Cerny produced heroics in the Rangers goal to make a fine one-handed save to turn away Hulse's glancing header from Teale's left-wing cross.

In a really enthraling end-to-end encounter Barker was called into action at the back to make a fine interception to deny Simpson getting a shot away after Tarrabt had spotted his run.

Faurlin came close to drawing Rangers level with a free-kick from twenty-five yards which scraped the side netting, but Bywater seemed to have the ball covered.

Rangers were pushing hard for an equaliser, but were struggling to find a way through the Rams backline who were in fine form.

And things got even better for Derby nine minutes before the break when Dickov won a free-kick twenty yards from goal and Savage stepped up to curl home a superb effort leaving Cerny with no chance as the ball flew into the top corner to make it 2-0 to the Rams.

It was a moment of pure class from Savage, and he joined Dickov in opening his account for the season. It was the perfect free-kick if ever there was one.

Rangers quickly hit back with a goal of their own within a four minutes when Tarrabt stepped up to curl a low drive from twenty-five yards into the bottom corner beyond the reach of the diving Bywater, who was given no chance with the curl on the ball.

The goalkeeper wascalled into action before the half was out, making a routine stop from Simpson's header and he also got both hands behind Borrowdale's stinging long-range effort from thirty yards.

The last chance of the half fell to Gary Teale ten yards out but he blasted over after Barker did well to head the ball back across goal into his path.

Rangers were back on level terms two minutes into the second half when a deep ball to Routledge at the far post was laid back across goal and Gavin Mahon made no mistake as he guided the ball past Bywater from four yards out.

Shell-shicked by the comeback, it Derby a few minutes to settle again.

However it was the visitors who had the next chance and Routledge beat the offside-trap to burst clear on goal but Bywater stood tall and made a fine save to turn the ball away.

But he was powerless to stop Rangers taking the lead for the first time in the game just before the hour.

Simpson latched onto a long ball forwards and managed to turn past Connolly and he made no thumping low shot into the back of the net.

That prompted Nigel Clough into a triple substition, throwing Jake Livermore as well as the fit-again Steven Davies and Stephen Pearson into the action in place of Stoor - sporting a huge black-eye - Dickov and Hughes. It was Davies' first appearance in two months after injuyring his ankle against Plymouth Argyle and Pearson's first outing for a month.

Derby mounted some pressure after those changes, winning two corners which had Rangers camped inside their own box for a good few minutes.

On the break Rangers could have made it 4-2 through Tarrbat but Bywater made another superb save at his near post, turning the ball behind for a corner.

Davies almost marked his return to action with a goal but after beating Cerny to the ball from Livermore's deep cross his looping header was cleared off the line.

As Rangers were unable to clear the ball Davies tried his luck again after good work by Savage, but he was off target.

Derby were getting the ball down and pushing on in search of an equaliser, with Hulse squandering a good opportunity with eight minutes to go after the ball fell kindly to him eighteen yards out.

With a minute to go Rangers were awarded a penalty after the linesman adjudged Moxey to have brought Routledge down inside the area, leaving Mr Haywood to point to the spot.

Buzsaky made no mistake from the spot, crashing the ball high into the back of the net to secure the points.

Derby return to action next Saturday with an away trip to Ipswich Town.

Derby County: Bywater, Connolly, Barker, Stoor (Livermore 62), Moxey, Croft, Hughes (Pearson 68), Savage, Teale, Dickov (Davies 68), Hulse
Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Pearson, Mills, Hendrie
Bookings: Connolly
Goals: Dickov (10) Savage (36)

Queens Park Rangers: Cerny, Mahon, Stewart, Gorkss, Routledge, Faurlin, Borrowdale, Ramage (Leigertwood 60), Simpson (Vine 75), Tarrabt (Agyemang 75), Buzsaky
Subs: Heaton, Hall, Alberti, Ainsworth
Goals: Tarrabt (40), Mahon (47), Simpson (53), Buzsaky (90 - Pen)

Referee: Mr M Haywood

Attendance: 30,135 (733 Queens Park Rangers Supporters)

Derby County Man of the Match, powered by Collstream: Robbie Savage