Derby ended their mini-slump in style as a six-goal thriller sent them back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship in front of a packed Pride Park.

Without a win in four games prior to this match, Derby seemed inspired by the television cameras as they proved that run was merely a blip with a swaggering display to reclaim pole position.

David Jones opened the scoring after just two minutes with a sweet volley, before Arturo Lupoli doubled the tally with a carbon copy goal 18 minutes later.

Giles Barnes had a hand in both those strikes, but saved the best for himself with a solo effort 15 minutes from the break.

Former Tottenham winger Johnnie Jackson pulled a goal back 11 minutes into the second period but Steve Howard converted from the spot to re-establish the three-goal cushion before a Chris Barker own-goal completed the rout.

An injury to Stephen Pearson had allowed Barnes into the midfield and the highly-rated teenager had an immediate impact, breaking with the ball after a failed U's attack and feeding Howard on the edge of the area.

The big forward swung a ball in to the far post, where Jones hit his shot first time to beat Dean Gerken.

Aside from the goals, chances were at a premium in the first half but Derby found themselves two up in the 20th minute.

Barnes again sent in a cross which Lupoli connected with a left-footed volley into the net.

Ten minutes later Barnes showed just why there is such interest in him from the top flight.

A couple of step-overs to beat his man and a strike from a tight angle sent Pride Park into raptures.

The only down point of an excellent first 45 minutes for the Rams was an injury to Michael Johnson, Tyrone Mears replacing him as the last action of the half.

In the 50th minute Barnes, who was drifting across the midfield with the ease of a seasoned pro, flashed a dangerous cross-cum shot over the face of the goal, but failed to find the net or a team-mate.

Colchester had their first real chances shortly after that, skipper Karl Duguid first attempting a chip and then grazing the crossbar.

The U's did pull a goal back in the 56th minute though, Duguid beating his man on the right before crossing for Jackson to head in from close range.

Derby responded six minutes later when, attempting to halt another Barnes piece of magic, John White fouled inside the area and Howard made no mistake, calmly slotting home his 15th goal of the season.

Lupoli could have made it five in the 65th minute but found the side netting, meaning that dubious honour fell instead to Barker.

Jones sent in a wicked cross which eluded the Rams attack, but the U's left-back sent the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear.

Colchester should have salvaged a goal immediately after but confusion set in with two players poised to strike and Stephen Bywater claimed, before a clever run from Richard Garcia ended with him firing narrowly wide.

In added time Duguid, by far Colchester's best player, hit a curling shot which required a less-than busy Bywater into a smart diving save to his right.

Teams:

Derby Bywater, Edworthy, Moore, Michael Johnson (Mears 45),McEveley, Teale, Oakley (Macken 82), Jones, Barnes,Lupoli (Fagan 70), Howard.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Bisgaard.

Booked: Oakley, Howard.

Goals: Jones 2, Lupoli 20, Barnes 30, Howard 62 pen,

Barker 69 og.

Colchester Gerken, White (Baldwin 73), Mills, Brown, Barker,Duguid, Watson (Ephraim 73), Izzet, Jackson,Cureton (Iwelumo 46), Garcia.

Subs Not Used: Davison, McLeod.

Booked: Mills.

Goals: Jackson 56.

Att: 26,704

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).