Derby ended a run of six games without a win in emphatic fashion as a dominant first-half display helped them to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth to move seven points above their opponents and the drop zone.
The Rams last recorded a win in the second tier in early November, while Pompey were on a four-match unbeaten run, but this match went against form as Derby were 3-0 up inside the first half hour.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing created two of the goals, including the first for Kane Wilson after eight minutes, when the Derby captain crossed the full-back and smashed the ball home.
The hosts then again showed their set-piece expertise when Eiran Cashin rifled in a header from Kenzo Goudmijn's corner – for Derby's twelfth set-piece goal of the season.
Things were even better six minutes later when Mendez-Laing's cross from the left was turned in by Ebou Adams – via a poor deflection from Tom McIntyre that sent the ball into the far corner.
Portsmouth failed to register a shot on target throughout and their second half performance matched the gloom of the first half.
And a familiar face punished them when former Pompey winger Marcus Harness was played through down the right and after dancing through several defenders, his cross was turned into his own net by Marlon Pack.
It could have been worse as James Collins headed a good chance wide of the far post, while Pompey goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid did well to keep out Goudmijn and Curtis Nelson late in the match.
There was also an almost comical own goal from the visitors when Schmid left Abdoulaye Kamara's backpass while under pressure from substitute Kayden Jackson, but the shot-stopper ran back to clear the ball off the line.
But Derby had to settle for four as they ended a four-match winless run at Pride Park and Paul Warne's side can now look upwards.
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