Nottingham Forest got back to winning ways after their shock defeat to Brighton at the weekend with a comprehensive victory over near neighbours Derby.

The Rams - who have not won at the City Ground since October 1971 - conceded two goals in as many first-half minutes as Forest ran them ragged.

Marlon Harewood's 17th strike of the season was quickly followed by a Darren Huckerby goal, both from headers, and the hosts should really have been out of sight by half-time.

A controversial Harewood penalty moments into the second half sent the majority of Forest's season's-best 29,725 crowd home happy and their side back up to fifth place in the First Division.

Forest boss Paul Hart made just one change to the side which lost at Brighton, bringing replacing John Thompson with defender Jon Olav Hjelde as he continued with his 4-3-3 formation.

Birmingham loan signing Tommy Mooney made his debut up front after joining Derby earlier in the day while Izale McLeod came in for top scorer Lee Morris, who had a recurrence of a combined back and hamstring injury.

David Johnson had the ball in the net in only the second minute of this fiercely-contested East Midlands derby only to be ruled offside before Huckerby blazed over from the edge of the penalty area from Andy Reid's corner.

But the match exploded into life in the 13th minute when Reid swung over a left-wing cross to the far post where Harewood out-jumped Paul Boertien to head home.

Barely two minutes later Forest scored again as Johnson headed another left-wing Reid pass against the crossbar and Huckerby comfortably nodded in from eight yards.

Former Italy and Middlesbrough striker Fabrizio Ravanelli headed a rare opportunity over from Craig Burley's 22nd-minute corner - but at the other end chances continued to flow.

Johnson hooked wide from six yards before Michael Dawson's towering header from Riccardo Scimeca's right-wing corner was stopped virtually on the line - by Harewood.

Five minutes before half-time Huckerby should have put the game beyond Derby but he curled wide left-footed from the edge of the penalty area.

But the killer blow was not long in coming as two minutes into the second half Jim Brennan's clipped pass was harshly adjudged to have been handled by Steve Elliott and Harewood stroked home the penalty, although keeper Lee Grant did get a hand to it diving to his left.

Almost immediately Huckerby ran on to a Gareth William's through-ball to burn Grant's fingertips as the home side showed no sign of easing up.

However, the game began to drift as the half drew on with Forest content to hold their position and utilise the pace of Huckerby, in a more withdrawn role, and Johnson to counter-attack.

Mooney thought he had scored on his debut when he stabbed home a Burley corner five minutes from time but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Derby never really posed a threat and the problems continue for manager John Gregory, whose side are without a win in eight matches - they have lost their last four - in a run stretching back to February 1.

At the end the Forest fans chanted 'Easy'. And it was.

Teams

Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Hjelde, Brennan, Harewood, Williams, Scimeca, Reid (Oyen 87), Huckerby, Johnson (Jess 83).

Subs Not Used: Roche, Thompson, Doig.

Booked: Reid, Dawson.

Goals: Harewood 13, Huckerby 15, Harewood 49 pen.

Derby Grant, Barton, Mills, Elliott, Boertien (Zavagno 58), Burley, Lee, Bolder, McLeod, Mooney, Ravanelli (Chadwick 58).

Subs Not Used: Kinkladze, Oakes, Hunt.

Booked: Lee, Bolder, Zavagno.

Att: 29,725

Ref: B Curson (Leicestershire).