Derby rekindled their hopes of securing a UEFA Cup spot as they ended their goal drought with a vengeance to demolish relegation-threatened Bolton at Pride Park.

Derby had taken only one point from their previous four matches and their spell without a goal extended to 409 minutes.

But Jim Smith's side ended that dismal record in spectacular fashion by scoring four goals in 19 first-half minutes.

Jamaica international Deon Burton was Derby's hero, scoring twice and setting up the other goals for Paulo Wanchope and Francesco Baiano.

They took full advantage of the visitors' misfortune in losing goalkeeper Keith Branagan with a knee injury when only one goal divided the teams.

His replacement, Gavin Ward, looked shaky and Derby, for whom Robbie Van Der Laan made a fine return in midfield after six months out with an ankle problem, had the firepower to exploit the situation.

But for Bolton, the threat of the drop for the second time in three seasons is looming large after their weekend win over Blackburn had rekindled their hopes.

Bolton made an encouraging start with on-loan West Brom striker Bob Taylor's 25-yard effort turned round the post by Mart Poom.

But the Rams threatened danger every time they ventured forward and Baiano and Burton squandered golden chances before the goal deluge started in the 26th minute.

A deep cross from Rory Delap was headed back across goal by Burton to Wanchope, who had time to turn before planting a low drive past Branagan.

Branagan then had to be substituted with his knee injury and replacement Ward must have wondered what had hit him as the home side struck three more times before the interval.

In the 36th minute, Ward was stranded by a deep cross to the far post from Gary Rowett and Van Der Laan's header back across goal was hammered into the roof of the net by Burton.

Ward and Andy Todd then tangled after a long ball had been pumped to the edge of the Bolton area and grateful Burton capitalised on their hesitancy to grab his second goal.

Then in first-half injury time, Burton found Baiano in space on the edge of the area and his first-time chip sailed past Ward and into the net off a post.

As is often the case after a one-sided first half, the second 45 minutes proved an anti-climax as Bolton tried to at least salvage some pride from the wreckage.

Derby took their foot off the pedal and there was little in the way of goalmouth action, although Nathan Blake should have done better with a close-range header which he aimed straight at Poom.

The nearest Derby came to completing a nap hand was when Burton chose to shoot first time after being found in space by Baiano and sent his effort past the post.

Teams

Derby: Poom, Rowett, Powell, Van Der Laan, Wanchope, Delap (Kozluk 73), Bohinen, Eranio (Solis 65), Dailly, Burton (Sturridge 82), Baiano.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Hunt.

Goals: Wanchope 27, Burton 37, 40, Baiano 45.

Bolton: Branagan (Ward 34), Cox, Fish (Bergsson 73), Thompson, Aljofree, Fairclough (Salako 46), Sheridan, Todd, Frandsen, Blake, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Phillips, Giallanza.

Booked: Fairclough, Blake.

Att: 29,126

Ref: D J Gallagher (Banbury).