Duncan Ferguson saw red for the fourth time in an Everton shirt as Derby buried their Goodison Park hoodoo.

Scottish striker Ferguson, who was skippering Everton at home for the first time since being handed the armband on a permanent basis in place of Gary Speed, appeared to lash out at Paulo Wanchope as the pair challenged for the ball in the Derby area after just 16 minutes.

Goals by Igor Stimac and Wanchope were enough to give the Rams their first league win at Everton since 1971, although it was the Ferguson sending off that will dominate the headlines.

John Oster's free-kick was headed towards the Derby goal by Carl Tiler and Ferguson, who had peeled away from Wanchope, was clearly being held back by his marker.

Referee Steve Dunn turned a blind eye to the challenge but he soon had to dive in to break up a scuffle after Ferguson swung his arm at the Derby striker.

Just how much contact the former Rangers man made with Wanchope's face was unclear, but he did raise his hands and the Rams striker immediately fell to the floor and writhed around in agony.

Wanchope went off the pitch for treatment but returned to the action two minutes later to a chorus of boos from the Goodison fans, who had chosen to give Ferguson a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

But the sending off was just one of several severe body blows that Everton, who suffered their first defeat since Boxing Day, took in a nightmare first half.

Mickael Madar, who has had a fine start to his Everton career, had to limp off after 14 minutes following an aerial challenge with Derby defender Christian Dailly.

And five minutes after the dismissal and with the Blues still trying to reshape their side, Stimac headed Gary Rowett's corner through goalkeeper Thomas Myhre's hands for his first goal of the season.

Tony Grant also limped off towards the end of the first half after injuring himself while tackling Stefano Eranio.

And the Rams moved closer to only their third away league win of the season after 50 minutes when Wanchope tapped the ball home from close range after a four-man move had cut the Everton defence apart.

Claus Thomsen's first goal for Everton gave the Blues late hope of snatching a draw but Derby were able to hang on.

But the game's major talking points will centre around referee Dunn and his handling of the proceedings.

Tempers were running high after the sending off yet the official appeared to make no attempt to regain control of the game.

He allowed Tony Thomas to get away with a horrendous high challenge on Wanchope immediately after Ferguson was ordered off and merely gave a free-kick when former Derby defender Craig Short lunged in with both feet at the controversial Costa Rican.

Sturridge also escaped after kicking out at Oster when he was on the floor and Dunn again failed to caution Short, now playing in an emergency striking role with Everton chasing the game, when his foot caught keeper Mart Poom in a challenge that brought tears to the Estonian's eyes.

Thomsen's overhead kick, which deflected in off Lee Carsley, gave Everton brief hope but Derby won with some ease.

The Merseysiders lacked attacking ideas after they were reduced to 10 men - but Everton can definitely feel they were hard done by.

Teams

Everton: Myhre, Thomas, Short (Bilic 81), Watson, Tiler, Ball, Farrelly, Grant (Thomsen 38), Oster, Madar (Cadamarteri 14), Ferguson.

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Allen.

Sent Off: Ferguson (16).

Goals: Thomsen 85.

Derby: Poom, Rowett, C. Powell, Stimac, Sturridge, Wanchope, Delap, Willems (D. Powell 72), Carsley, Eranio, Dailly.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Bridge-Wilkinson, Elliot, Kozluk.

Booked: D. Powell, Eranio, Stimac.

Goals: Stimac 21, Wanchope 50.

Att: 34,876

Ref: S W Dunn (Bristol).