A sell-out crowd at the City Ground saw Marcus Tudgay and Robert Earnshaw score twice.
Former City loanees Stephen Bywater and Dean Leacock who was booked, played for Derby whilst Dele Adebola was an unused substitute.
Other former City players on target tonight were Gary Caldwell who got the equaliser for Wigan Athletic in a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal, Jonnie Jackson who scored for Charlton in a 1-1 draw at Brighton and Kevin Kyle who scored a penalty for Hearts in a 2-0 win at St Mirren.