Derby's manager, Jim Smith, had denounced last weekend's defeat at Crystal Palace as his worst experience in office. After Leicester scored four times in the first 17 minutes yesterday, he was uncomfortably spoilt for choice. "Horrendous," he said. "Nobody seems to want to get into Europe."

Confusion was particularly rife on the left of Derby's defence, where Christian Dailly and Chris Powell had some reintroducing to do. All four goals came from that source.

Derby began with Dailly as the left of three central defenders, with Powell immediately ahead of him in a four-man midfield. As the goals flew in, they half-heartedly switched for the rest of the half to four at the back, although that owed less to orders from the bench than shell-shock.

By the standards of their first-half defending, Derby achieved a minor success for Leicester's first goal in the second minute - a partially cleared corner. Rob Savage swung over another cross and Emile Heskey's robust header from six yards beat Mart Poom.

Leicester added a second 16 seconds later as Heskey embarked upon a brawny run down the right. Heskey might have shot but he crossed to the far post, where Muzzy Izzet had outpaced his markers to head in.

By the ninth minute he had scored his second, out-jumping Dailly to flick Steve Guppy's in-swinging corner past a motionless Poom.

Poom was also motionless for the fourth - his digestive system apart, perhaps. Ian Marshall's slouching challenge for Savage's cross did not amount to much but by now the ball knew the way and trundled into the corner. Poom was so disoriented that the first cross he caught, he promptly flung out of play.

Leicester, bolstered by their most comprehensive victory since returning to the Premiership two years ago, sneaked above Derby in the table. They, at least, remain keen for Europe. As their manager Martin O'Neill said: "We're up for it and we've given ourselves a chance."

Derby: Poom, Rowett, Powell (Burton 73), Van Der Laan (Solis 46), Sturridge, Wanchope, Bohinen, Laursen, Carsley, Dailly, Baiano (Delap 45). Subs Not Used: Hoult, Elliot. Booked: Sturridge, Wanchope.

Leicester: Keller, Savage, Guppy (Ullathorne 78), Kaamark, Elliott, Walsh (Cottee 73), Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis (Fenton 82), Marshall, Heskey. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Wilson. Goals: Heskey 1, Izzet 2, Heskey 8, Marshall 15. Att: 29,855

Referee: G S Willard (Worthing).