Leicester City made just one change from the side that was held to a draw at league leaders Cardiff last Tuesday night.
Paul Konchesky made a return at left-back after recovering from a hamstring injury, so Jeff Schlupp dropped to the substitutes' bench.
Sean St Ledger retained his place at right-back as Ritchie De Laet was not included in the squad, despite returning to training on Friday.
3 min: A good move from City as Richie Wellens plays in St Ledger down the right and his cross is hung up for Andy King, but his header is just over the bar.
16 min: GOAL 1-0 Jamie Ward sends in a deep free-kick and Richard Keogh out-jumps the City defence and heads past Kasper Schmeichel. City had started the brighter of the two sides but Derby make the decisive breakthrough.
20 min: Danny Drinkwater's corner causes problems in the Rams six-yard box but Chris Wood just cannot force the ball home.
22 min: Ward is booked for a lunging challenge on King.
23 min: A clever back-heel from Wellens plays in Konchesky but he cannot beat Frank Fielding from an acute angle. City still look the more dangerous side.
26 min: A great chance for Lloyd Dyer. Wellens does well and tees up David Nugent inside the Rams box and he crosses to the back post for Dyer, but he flashes his volley wide of the far post. He should have done better.
28 min: Nugent gets in behind the Rams defence and hits his shot first time on the half-volley, but Fielding saves.
35 min: Ward is inches away from connecting with Paul Coutts' cross after getting in front of St Ledger, and then appeals for a penalty for a push. The Rams are finally starting to threaten.
35 min: Coutts is booked for leaving his foot in on St Ledger.
41 min: Derby again appeal for a penalty when Wellens challenges Kieron Freeman.
42 min: Ward skins St Ledger and crosses for Chris Martin, but Schmeichel saves his volley. City have had a lot of the play but Derby have created the more clear-cut chances.
44 min: GOAL 2-0 Craig Forsyth whips in a cross and Martin out-jumps Michael Keane to head Derby into a two-goal lead. It was too easy for Derby to put in the cross.
45+1 min: Dyer does well to turn and whip in a deep cross, and King rises above the Rams defence but his header is over the bar.
H-T: Derby 2 City 0
51 min: Keane is booked for a foul on Conor Sammon.
58 min: Substitute Ben Marshall cuts inside Forsyth and shoots, but his shot is comfortable for Fielding.
62 min: GOAL 1-2 Marshall sends in a curling cross, Nugent controls it and lays it back for Schlupp who hammers a ferocious strike into the top corner of the net. Fielding had no chance.
63 min: City produce a great move on the edge of the box and Wood tees up Nugent but Fielding saves.
65 min: Substitute Ben Davies seizes upon Schmeichel's throw-out and his shot is just inches over the bar.
70 min: Schlupp does well down the left and pulls the ball back for Nugent, but again his shot is too close to Fielding.
74 min: City give the ball away in a poor area and Sammon sets up Martin. His shot is deflected but Schmeichel saves.
86 min: Martin gets past Wes Morgan into a dangerous position but his cross evades everyone and City survive.
90 min: Drinkwater shoots over and then Harry Kane slices a volley in a good position. City's shooting has been poor.
90+2 min: Kane makes space for himself on the edge of the box but his shot fails to hit the target.
90+5 min: The frustration boils over for St Ledger as he is booked for dissent.
90+6 min: The final whistle blows and there are discernible boos from the 2,000 travelling fans after yet another disappointing day as City's alarming slump continues.
F-T: Derby 2 City 1
