The R's fought back from two goals down to earn a stunning victory at Pride Park in front of the live BBC TV cameras.

Trailing 2-0 to goals from Paul Dickov and Robbie Savage, Rangers responded in emphatic style to gain further ground on the Championship's front-runners.

Adel Taarabt sparked the revival with a delicious right-footed free kick, before the outstanding Gavin Mahon drew Rangers level seconds into the second period with a tidy close-range finish.

The comeback was complete just before the hour, when Jay Simpson bagged his sixth goal of the campaign with a well-taken low drive.

The R's even had the luxury of a late fourth courtesy of Akos Buzsaky's spot-kick, as Jim Magilton's men jumped into the play-off zone in style.

Rangers boss Jim Magilton made just one change from the side that beat Reading 4-1 at Loftus Road on Tuesday evening - though it was enforced.

The switch came in central midfield, where Ben Watson was replaced by Mahon. Watson, of course, serving the first of a two-match ban following his sending off in midweek against the Royals.

Radek Cerny was again between the sticks for Rangers, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Gary Borrowdale.

Buzsaky and Taarabt would begin the game out wide for Magilton's men, whilst Mahon lined-up alongside Alejandro Faurlin at the heart of the R's midfield engine room.

There were no alterations in attack, where Wayne Routledge partnered Simpson.

Rangers made the trip to Pride Park with an amazing statistic to their name - they had only been beaten once in 21 years when travelling to Derby.

And the R's looked intent on adding another year to that from the first whistle.

Not long had passed on the clock when after some promising link-up play between Mahon and Taarabt, the latter superbly played Buzsaky in down the left.

The Magical Magyar had time and space to pick out a man in the box, but decided to play a cross first-time - but it was too close to Stephen Bywater in the Derby goal, who got both hands on the ball.

Rangers knew that they could be up against it slightly based on the Rams' home form. Derby had won an impressive four out of their six league fixtures at Pride Park this season.

And the Rams carried on that good momentum when they took a 10th minute through veteran striker Dickov.

Rangers were guilty of switching off from a quick Robbie Savage free-kick, and Dickov made no mistake to slot the ball home past Cerny from close range.

The goal didn't dishearten Rangers too much though. Mahon was unfortunate when he couldn't quite get enough on a header after a teasing cross down the right from Routledge.

Moments later though, Routledge was dispossessed down the right and Teale played a pin-point cross into Rob Hulse.

Derby's number nine seemed certain to score with a header from just six-yards out, but Cerny was on guard to single-handedly beat the ball to safety.

Soon after, the R's thought they had scored when a Faurlin free-kick looked to have hit the back of the net.

But despite vocal cheers from the Rangers faithful in the away end, the Argentinean's effort hit the side netting.

Rangers were having the greater say in terms of territory and possession, though both sides looked dangerous on the break.

The Rams were next on the attack, and when Stewart was harshly penalised for a foul on Dickov just outside the area, another Savage free-kick - this time straight for goal - saw Derby increase their advantage.

Cerny was helpless, as the former Welsh international curled his shot into the top corner of the net.

Despite conceding another, Rangers were far from spectators and if anything, the R's were passing their hosts off the park.

So it was fully deserved when, after Taarabt was fouled 25-yards out, the same player picked himself up in the 39th minute and curled home an unstoppable free-kick to put Rangers firmly back in the match.

Buoyed by the goal, the R's set about getting that all-important equaliser. After Routledge's arcing ball over the top from the right found Simpson, his deft header was well held by Bywater.

However, it was the home side who should have scored the games' fourth goal moments before the break, but Teale opted for placement instead of power and side-footed a weak volley over.

Feeling slightly aggrieved to be trailing at the break, the R's wasted no time in drawing level two minutes into the second period.

Taarabt's sublime back-post cross was expertly guided down by Routledge into the path of Mahon, who calmly tucked the ball beneath the advancing Bywater.

Rangers were now in total control of the affair, and when Taarabt played an exquisite through ball to Routledge, the winger should have done better than to blast straight at Bywater from an acute angle.

But they weren't to be denied, as Simpson's persistence paid dividends just before the hour.

A through ball caused confusion in the Derby ranks and having shrugged off the attentions of Barker, the Arsenal loanee was coolness personified to stroke the ball home from 10 yards.

The R's were rampant by now, with the introduction of Mikele Leigertwood - returning from a recent virus - adding further steel and quality to the R's rearguard.

Indeed, the Hoops could and perhaps should have made it four, when Taarabt broke free down the right, cut inside and unleashed a stinging right-foot shot which Bywater did well to parry.

To their credit, the injury-hit Rams continued to hustle and harry, but the best they could muster was a looping Hulse header which Gorkss mopped up with ease.

But it was the R's who had the last laugh, when a flag from the referee's assistant signalled for what looked a soft foul on Routledge in the area, and Buzsaky stepped up to hammer home number four.

Derby County: Bywater, Connolly, Croft, Savage, Hulse, Teale, Barker, Moxey, Dickov (Davies 68), Stoor (Livermore 63), Hughes (Pearson 68).

Subs not used: Deeney, Buxton, Hendrie, Mills.

Goals: Dickov (10), Savage (36)

Bookings: Connolly (56)