Nottingham Forest withstood a second-half fightback from Derby to secure a 3-2 victory at the City Ground.
Second-half rally not enough to secure visitors a point
Nottingham Forest withstood a second-half fightback from Derby County to secure a 3-2 victory over their fierce rivals at the City Ground.
Former Derby boss Billy Davies saw his Forest side enjoy a dream start to the game as Radoslaw Majewski scored inside the opening minute.
And by half-time, Forest were firmly in command as Dexter Blackstock and Nathan Tyson both etched their names on to the scoresheet.
The second half was a different matter as a Wes Morgan own goal and Jake Livermore effort brought the Rams back into the game, but ex-Forest star Nigel Clough's side were unable to conjure up an equaliser.
Majewski's rocket got the derby off to an explosive start. The Poland international, who scored the first goal of his loan spell from Groclin against Middlesbrough in midweek to set up a Carling Cup third round clash at home to Blackburn, crashed an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the crossbar after just 58 seconds.
Chris Cohen's long-range shot from the left side narrowly missed the far post after finding a path through a crowded penalty area.
Gary Teale spurned a good chance to bring Derby level midway through the first half, dragging his shot wide after Rob Hulse's pass found him with time and space on the edge of the area.
It proved to be a costly miss as Forest doubled their lead after 28 minutes.
Kris Commons needlessly brought down Joe Garner on the right touchline and from Cohen's inswinging free-kick the ball ended up in the Derby net.
Blackstock wheeled away in celebration but the final touch was off Hulse's head.
Hulse thought he had made amends eight minutes later but his close-range header was ruled out by referee Martin Atkinson.
Dallying
Stephen Pearson then went on a wonderful mazy run and slipped in Hulse behind the Forest defence but Lee Camp was quickly out of his goal to block the shot with his legs.
Just as Derby were showing signs that they could get back into the match, Commons' dallying seemingly put the game beyond them.
He lost possession trying to slip the ball through Paul McKenna's legs and Blackstock put Tyson in the clear to round Stephen Bywater and slot home into an empty net.
Derby were famously 2-0 down at the City Ground in the cup last season but came back to win 3-2.
The 4,376 travelling support thought another stirring comeback was on when Miles Addison and Livermore brought the Rams within a goal their hosts with around half-an-hour remaining.
Paul Connolly's long punt forward was flicked on by Jake Buxton and Addison's overhead kick struck Morgan and wrong-footed Camp as it flew into the net in the 51st minute.
Nine minutes later Livermore's left-foot shot from the edge of the box found its way into the bottom corner after deflecting off Luke Chambers.
Derby's tails were up but as they pushed for an equalising goal Forest almost caught them on the break as Tyson's effort just cleared the crossbar.
