Goals from Gareth McAuley, Carlos Edwards and Connor Wickham made it a perfect Easter for Town.

McAuley followed up his goal in the win over Reading on Saturday with the opener on four minutes, finishing from close range following a corner.

Edwards seemed to have sealed the win with a breakaway goal nine minutes from time but Rob Hulse pulled the Rams back into the match with a header straight after.

Wickham did secure the points though, getting on the end of Grant Leadbitter's pass, shrugging off Jay McEveley and finishing in style in added on time as Derby finished the game with 10 men following a red card to Stephen Pearson and with manager Nigel Clough sent to the stands.

Town boss Roy Keane made two changes to the side that beat Reading at the weekend, Shane O'Connor returning at left-back, Wickham starting with David Wright and David Healy dropping to the bench.

Blues created openings before McAuley's early goal, Wickham showing good strength to hold off Russell Anderson before firing at goal, former Town loanee Stephen Bywater making the save with his right knee.

The Derby 'keeper couldn't prevent Blues going in front though a minute later, failing to get any distance with his punch from Grant Leadbitter's corner and McAuley finished from six yards.

Brian Murphy saved comfortably from Steven Davies' effort on the turn, while at the other end Bywater had an equally comfortable gather from Jon Walters' header.

Jaime Peters and David Norris combined well to clear from Davies, Daryl Murphy almost getting on the end of the clearance as Town continued to keep the home side at bay.

Wickham tested Bywater with a strike from the edge of the box, the Rams then failing to take advantage of half chances in the Blues box, Chris Porter seeing an effort scrambled clear after Pearson had headed Paul Green's cross back into the danger area.

Town should have been extended the lead just past the half hour, Wickham's throw was flicked on by McAuley and first Shaun Barker then Bywater denied Murphy from close range.

Another missile from Wickham caused further havoc in the home box, the Rams failed to clear, Jack Colback fed the ball back into the box and after McAuley had won the header, Wickham fired across goal, Murphy failing to get the touch it needed at the far post.

Leadbitter hit the woodwork with a right foot effort from 30 yards before Peters and Pearson needed lengthy treatment after a clash of heads.

It took a fantastic save from Murphy to take Town into the break ahead, the 'keeper clawing Shaun Barker's header out of the top corner.

Wright and Edwards were introduced at the start of the second-half, Peters - probably still dazed after the knock to his head - and Daryl Murphy making way.

Walters brought another save from Bywater in the first effort of the second-half, Town then having a scare when Barker headed wide after Murphy was stranded out of his goal.

Rams' boss Clough made his first change 10 minutes after the restart, Nicky Hunt, who had been booked for a first-half challenge on O'Connor, making way for Hulse.

Murphy was in the right place to save from Pearson's far post header, then dealt with Porter's left foot drive from 18 yards, Davies seeing another effort blocked as the Rams began to enjoy possession around the Blues' box.

Derby made a second change on the hour with Gilles Sunu on for Davies. Colback picked up a booking for not retreating at a free-kick, the midfielder then bringing another save from Bywater after the ball cannoned into his path 20 yards out.

McAuley joined him in referee Moss' notebook after a foul on Pearson, the Ram sending his free-kick straight into the Town wall from 20 yards.

Tommy Smith replaced O'Connor for the last 15 minutes. Hulse then heading wide from Pearson's cross before Derby made a final change with Tomasz Cywka on for Michael Tonge.

McAuley toed the ball away from Porter as he was about to pull the trigger inside the box but it was Blues who struck again nine minutes from time, Edwards converting Wickham's cross from close range following a Town breakaway.

Hulse gave the Rams a lifeline with a goal out of nothing two minutes later, Town switching off to the cross and the striker getting between the Blues defence to flick the ball into the net.

Rams boss Clough was then sent to the stands after being deemed too strong with his protest over a free-kick, Robbie Savage  exchanging words with the Town boss on the sidelines.

Pearson followed down the tunnel seconds later for dissent, shown a straight red card as tempers rose, the midfielder smashing the water bottles into orbit as he left the pitch. McAuley and Murphy picking up yellow cards.

Town had a couple of anxious moments as the game entered the five minutes of added on time but Wickham secured a win with a cool finish after bursting clear of the Rams defence to complete the double over the midlanders.

Derby: Bywater, Hunt (Hulse 53), Barker, Anderson, McEveley, Tonge (Cywka 77), Green, Savage, Pearson, Davies (Sunu 60), Porter. Subs not used: Teale, Deeney, Pringle, Martin. Sent-off: Pearson. Booked: Hunt.

Town: B.Murphy, Peters (D.Wright 46), McAuley, Delaney, O'Connor (Smith 75), Walters, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, D.Murphy (Edwards 46), Wickham. Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Healy, Martin, Eastman. Booked: Colback, McAuley, B.Murphy.

Att: 28,137