Derby showed the poise and composure manager Frank Lampard was famous for with Chelsea and England to sink fast-starting Brentford 3-1 at Pride Park and climb back into the Sky Bet Championship top six.
In an open game between two of the division's most attack-minded teams, Derby could have had more goals but for some fine saves by Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
Brentford took an early lead with Henrik Dalsgaard's header but goals before the break by Harry Wilson, David Nugent and Mason Mount ensured the points went to the home side.
The Bees went ahead inside the first minute and it came from a corner on the right.
Mohamed Benrahma swung the ball in and Dalsgaard rose to power in a header which went in off the underside of the bar.
Derby were nearly level seven minutes in when Wilson hit a left-foot shot from 20 yards which Bentley got a hand to.
The Rams were deservedly on terms with 13 minutes gone and it came from another Brentford corner.
This time a low delivery from Benrahma was intercepted by Mount and he set Wilson away. After riding a tackle, the midfielder sent Craig Bryson clear on the halfway line.
Bryson took the ball to the edge of the area to draw Bentley before squaring back for Wilson to fire in a low shot.
Brentford soaked up more pressure as the Rams went for a second, a cross being cleared to Mount whose volley was plucked out of the air by Bentley.
And Derby were ahead with 20 minutes gone as Nugent clipped over Bentley from a ball over the top by Bradley Johnson.
The Rams doubled their lead just before the half-hour when Wilson's run saw Brentford concede a free-kick on the edge of the area and Mount curled the ball over the wall and to the right of Bentley's dive.
Brentford were not ready to give up and Oliver Watkins shot from the right to bring a good save out of Scott Carson.
Mason Bennett and Nugent both fired over as relentless Derby looked for a fourth as the first half drew to a close.
The second half did not live up to the first but Derby looked comfortably in control, right-back and academy product Jayden Bogle just failing to get on the end of his ball forward after battling into the Brentford area 10 minutes in.
Bogle continued to look a threat as his pass to Bennett inside the Brentford area was just cut out and the Wilson was narrowly wide with a chip over Bentley after exchanging passers with Mount.
Substitute Florian Jozefzoon, making his first appearance against his former club, shot high and wide as Derby hunted a fourth but the Rams had already done enough to secure a convincing win.
