Derby County's first home game of the 2010/11 npower Championship season ended in a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City today.

Winger Chris Burke scored the winner late on the visitors after Polish attacker Tomasz Cywka had cancelled out Michael Chopra's opener early on.

Luke Varney was a surprise starter up front for Derby with Rob Hulse and Chris Porter nursing injuries.

The former Charlton man was making his first start in Derby colours since the final day of the 2008/09 season at Watford.

Paul Green returned after missing the Carling Cup defeat at Crewe on international duty with Ireland and Gareth Roberts returned after being on the bench at Gresty Road.

Derby's players were sporting black armbands in memory of Exeter City striker Adam Stansfield, who sadly passed away at the age of 31 with Bowel Cancer this week.

A minute's silence was held prior to kick-off to remember Stansfield, who was a team-mate of defender Dean Moxey's at the Grecians.

Rare Start: Luke Varney was in from the start today

Nigel Clough said in his pre-match press conference that his players needed to maintain the standards set in the victory at Leeds a week ago, and his side did just that in a bright opening at Pride Park.

The first real chance fell to Cardiff after ten minutes. Chopra's pace allowed him to get in behind Leacock and pull the ball back to Whittingham who lifted the ball just over inside the box.

Prolific Chopra bagged four goals in the Bluebirds' 6-1 demolition of Derby at the Cardiff City Stadium last September, and the former Sunderland striker registered his name on the scoresheet a quarter of an hour.

Clough will feel Chorpra was given too much time and space to advance into the area and then pick his spot with a calm finish past Bywater.

It was a bitter pill for Derby to swallow after starting so brightly.

Sticking to their guns, playing their football and remaining patient, Derby were back level within ten minutes.

A Brayford throw-in picked out Varney, who played the ball into the path of the onrushing Cywka to score his first ever goal for Derby from close range.

Back Level: Tomasz Cywka scores to make it 1-1

Derby almost turned the game around completely a few minutes later, but Barker's header from Commons' corner was saved by Marshall.

Bywater had to produce a fine save at his near post just after the half hour, palming Burke's powerful drive away for a corner.

Cywka was almost celebrating a second goal before the break, but he didn't connect cleanly with Commons' corner and Marshall was able to save.

A serious injury to Cardiff's Kevin McNaughton resulted in a long break in play as he was treated by the emergency services on the field before he departed on a stretcher.

Chopra had a chance register his name on the scoresheet again before the interval, but Barker got back to make a fine challenge just as the forward prepared to shoot.

A powerful drive from Commons in the closing seconds of the half almost had Derby ahead at the break, but the ball whistled just over.

The second half carried on where it left off, with bags of energy and commitment from both sides.

Derby had to defend well for a five minute spell when Cardiff enjoyed the better of the play, with Leacock and Barker dealing with the aerial threat of Bothroyd well as Cardiff tried to bring him into game.

A reasonable chance for Cardiff on the hour fell to Drinkwater, but he blasted over after the ball fell kindly to him inside the area.

Marshall was forced his first save of the second half five minutes after the hour, diving low to deny Green a goal from long distance.

Conor Doyle came off the bench to make his Pride Park debut for the Rams with twenty minutes to go, replacing Savage, allowing Green to revert to a holding midfield role alongside Bailey.

Derby were almost celebrating taking the lead straight away, but Cywka's cross-shot was deflected away.

With just under ten minutes to go, Cardiff retook the lead.

A low shot Whittingham was well saved by Bywater, but the rebound fell kindly to Burke who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the net.

It was exceptionally hard luck on Bywater, who had done so well to keep the initial shot from Whittingham out.

Derby chased an equaliser and put the pressure on, but Cardiff kept them at bay to take the points back to Wales.

The closest Derby came was a snap-shot from Cywka, seconds before being replaced by Porter in the final minutes.

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Roberts, Bailey, Savage (Doyle 70), Cywka (Porter 87), Green, Commons (Pringle 76), Varney.

Subs: Deeney, Martin, Moxey, Buxton.

Booked: Barker

Goals: Cywka (25)

Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton (Matthews 45), Hudson, Gyepes, Whittingham, Chopra (McCormack 84), Bothroyd, Burke, Olofinjana, Drinkwater, Blake.

Subs: Heaton, Rae, Quinn, Gerrard, Taiwo.

Booked: Matthews

Goals: Chopra (15), Burke (78)

Referee: N Miller

Attendance: 25,103

Man of the Match, powered by Collstream: Tomasz Cywka