A brace from Steve Howard and a stunning goal by Giles Barnes helped fire Derby back to the summit of the Coca-Cola Championship with a 3-1 win over promotion rivals Cardiff at Pride Park.

Howard netted his first from the penalty spot after Steven Thompson had handled in the area after 28 minutes, but the Bluebirds responded well and levelled just three minutes later through Paul Parry.

Highly-rated Barnes restored the Rams' lead just a minute after the break before Howard netted his 16th of the season on the hour to maintain their seemingly unstoppable march towards the Barclays Premiership.

Rams boss Billy Davies made three changes from Tuesday's last-gasp draw against QPR with Craig Fagan, Seth Johnson and Tyrone Mears all returning to the starting XI at the expense of Gary Teale, Marc Edworthy and Arturo Lupoli.

There was also a place on the bench for winger Darren Currie who signed a loan until the end of the season from Ipswich on Thursday.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones also made three switches to his team as he looked to build on their impressive midweek draw against Southampton with Jason Byrne, Riccardo Scimeca and Glenn Loovens making way for Thompson, Simon Walton and Chris Gunter.

Michael Chopra's blocked free-kick was the only action of note in a cagey opening 10 minutes with both sides failing to adapt to the blustery conditions.

Chopra, the Championship's leading scorer, threatened again after 12 minutes as he burst through a static Derby defence and was only denied a clear strike at Stephen Bywater by a fantastic recovery challenge by Dean Leacock.

But after an uneventful opening the game suddenly burst into life in the 28th minute.

Barnes' header from David Jones' inswinging corner was going well wide, but Thompson inexplicably allowed the ball to crash against his outstretched arm leaving the referee with little option but to point to the penalty spot.

And the Rams' leading scorer Howard made no mistake from 12 yards as he swept a low shot into Neil Alexander's bottom left-hand corner.

But Derby's joy was shortlived as the visitors restored parity soon after.

Jay McEveley failed to deal with a long ball from Stephen McPhail and his sliced clearance fell invitingly into the path of the marauding Parry who coolly slotted the ball past the onrushing Bywater.

And Cardiff were inches away from taking the lead just a minute later as Chopra sprung the offside trap to unleash a stinging half-volley from just inside the penalty area which crashed back off Bywater's crossbar.

Derby started the second half in buoyant mood and were only prevented from taking the lead after 46 minutes by a wonderful save from Alexander.

Howard set up Barnes with a neat cushioned header and the youngster's instinctive volley from 10 yards was expertly diverted over the crossbar by the outstretched leg of the Cardiff stopper.

Barnes was not be denied two minutes later, though, as he added to his burgeoning reputation with a goal of real quality.

The 18-year-old, who is attracting admiring glances from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, latched onto Howard's through ball and after seeing off the attention of two Cardiff defenders he caressed the ball with the outside of his right foot past Alexander from 18 yards.

And Derby's enterprising second-half display was rewarded with a third goal on the hour as Howard brought Matt Oakley's pass under control to fire a crisp half-volley past the despairing dive of Alexander.

Substitute Byrne wasted a golden opportunity to pull a goal back for the visitors in the 69th minute as he failed to connect with Gunter's low cross from just two yards, while Simon Walton saw a long-range drive tipped over the crossbar by Bywater three minutes later as the visitors tried in vain to find a way back into the game.

Teams:

Derby Bywater, Mears, Leacock, Moore, McEveley, Barnes,Oakley, Seth Johnson (Currie 75), Jones, Fagan, Howard.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Camara, Peschisolido, Teale.

Booked: Leacock, Moore, Howard, McEveley.

Goals: Howard 28 pen, Barnes 49, Howard 60.

Cardiff Alexander, Gunter, Johnson, McNaughton, Ledley, Parry,McPhail, Walton, Whittingham, Thompson, Chopra (Byrne 35),Byrne (Green 78).

Subs Not Used: Forde, Purse, Blake.

Goals: Parry 32.

Att: 27,689

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).