Rob Hulse scored twice as a rampant Derby swept aside Preston in a battle between two playoff hopefuls.
Jon Parkin's neat finish put the visitors ahead but Derby hit back through a Billy Jones own-goal.
Kris Commons lashed Derby in front only for Chris Sedgwick to fire Preston level before a Hulse volley and Shaun Barker's header made it 4-2.
Hulse prodded home from close range to make the three points safe before Chris Brown's stoppage-time consolation.
Derby boss Nigel Clough on Rob Hulse, who shrugged off illness to score twice: "He left his bed that he's been in with a stomach upset most of the day and he got two goals.
"I heard somebody say he should have a stomach upset more often! He picked up this afternoon and said, 'Well I'll give it a go, see how long I can last'.
"When the second one went in, he lasted a bit longer being on a hat-trick."
Preston boss Darren Ferguson: "You can see where the problems lay: the goals we gave away.
"If you score three away goals you expect to get something. To concede five at any level is absolute nonsense.
"The third, fourth and fifth goals were absolute nonsense. Derby have not even had to work for the second-half goals."
90:00+5:34 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+4:44 The ball is delivered by Keith Treacy, clearance by Jake Buxton.
90:00+4:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Williams by Rob Hulse. Free kick taken by Tom Williams.
90:00+1:44 Assist by Keith Treacy.
90:00+1:44 GOAL - Chris Brown:Derby 5 - 3 Preston Chris Brown grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Derby 5-3 Preston.
90:00+1:27 The ball is swung over by Tom Williams.
90:00+0:40 Rob Hulse is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
89:36 Tom Williams sends in a cross, save made by Stephen Bywater.
88:37 Paul Coutts takes a shot. Jake Buxton gets a block in.
87:01 Paul Coutts takes the inswinging corner, Neill Collins takes a shot. Stephen Bywater makes a save.
86:53 Keith Treacy sends in a cross, clearance made by Nicky Hunt.
85:28 Unfair challenge on Billy Jones by Chris Porter results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.
85:02 Billy Jones produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
84:24 Inswinging corner taken by Ross Wallace.
83:42 Substitution Chris Porter comes on in place of Robbie Savage.
81:50 Substitution Russell Anderson replaces Kris Commons.
79:27 Substitution Chris Brown is brought on as a substitute for Jon Parkin.
79:27 Substitution Keith Treacy is brought on as a substitute for Chris Sedgwick.
78:52 A cross is delivered by Tom Williams.
78:26 Ross Wallace takes a shot. Jake Buxton gets a block in.
77:22 Substitution Dave Martin on for Stephen Pearson.
76:08 James McEveley provided the assist for the goal.
76:08 GOAL - Rob Hulse:Derby 5 - 2 Preston Rob Hulse fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Derby 5-2 Preston.
76:05 Centre by James McEveley,
75:30 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons, Jake Buxton takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
75:15 Michael Tonge takes a shot. Tom Williams gets a block in.
74:29 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jon Parkin. Stephen Bywater takes the free kick.
73:46 Michael Tonge delivers the ball.
72:50 Chris Sedgwick produces a cross, Shaun Barker gets a block in.
71:21 Jon Parkin is caught offside. Stephen Bywater takes the free kick.
70:46 Foul by Rob Hulse on Neill Collins, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
70:33 Tom Williams crosses the ball, Stephen Bywater makes a save.
70:14 Michael Tonge takes a shot. Blocked by Sean St. Ledger.
69:43 Booking Booking for Jon Parkin for dissent.
69:28 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Buxton by Jon Parkin. Stephen Bywater restarts play with the free kick.
69:01 Unfair challenge on Chris Sedgwick by James McEveley results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.
67:48 Assist on the goal came from Kris Commons.
67:48 GOAL - Shaun Barker:Derby 4 - 2 Preston Shaun Barker grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Derby 4-2 Preston.
67:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rob Hulse by Billy Jones. The ball is sent over by Kris Commons,
66:27 Kris Commons crosses the ball.
65:58 The ball is crossed by James McEveley, Rob Hulse takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.
64:55 The offside flag is raised against Kris Commons. Sean St. Ledger restarts play with the free kick.
64:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Barker by Jon Parkin. Stephen Bywater takes the free kick.
63:02 The assist for the goal came from Jake Buxton.
63:02 GOAL - Rob Hulse:Derby 3 - 2 Preston Rob Hulse finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 3-2 Preston.
63:00 Centre by Jake Buxton,
61:40 GOAL - Chris Sedgwick:Derby 2 - 2 Preston Chris Sedgwick finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 2-2 Preston.
58:08 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Tonge from the left by-line, Shaun Barker has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
55:57 A cross is delivered by Billy Jones.
54:04 Danny Welbeck produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.
52:47 Booking The referee cautions Robbie Savage for unsporting behaviour.
52:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robbie Savage on Matthew James. Andy Lonergan takes the direct free kick.
50:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rob Hulse by Neill Collins. Michael Tonge restarts play with the free kick.
50:28 Jon Parkin takes a shot. Save by Stephen Bywater.
50:21 Matthew James fouled by Robbie Savage, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew James takes the free kick.
49:40 Corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line.
49:12 The assist for the goal came from Michael Tonge.
49:12 GOAL - Kris Commons:Derby 2 - 1 Preston Kris Commons scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Derby 2-1 Preston.
48:35 Corner taken by Michael Tonge,
48:19 Stephen Pearson takes a shot. Sean St. Ledger gets a block in.
48:11 The ball is sent over by Kris Commons.
Correction - 47:54 Rob Hulse takes a shot.
47:54 Effort from deep inside the area by Rob Hulse misses to the right of the goal.
47:17 Corner from the right by-line taken by Kris Commons, Jake Buxton takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
46:59 Shaun Barker takes a shot. Blocked by Neill Collins.
46:26 Ross Wallace challenges Robbie Savage unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kris Commons takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+3:04 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+1:43 Robbie Savage takes the chance to get an effort at goal.
45:00+1:35 Nicky Hunt delivers the ball, clearance made by Neill Collins.
44:57 Sean St. Ledger gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rob Hulse. Kris Commons has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
43:02 Centre by James McEveley, clearance made by Sean St. Ledger.
41:16 Unfair challenge on Robbie Savage by Chris Sedgwick results in a free kick. Stephen Bywater restarts play with the free kick.
38:32 The referee blows for offside. Shaun Barker takes the free kick.
37:53 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Jon Parkin misses to the left of the target.
37:06 Inswinging corner taken by Paul Coutts, Michael Tonge manages to make a clearance.
36:20 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Paul Coutts, Jon Parkin takes a shot.
35:57 The ball is delivered by Tom Williams.
34:49 James McEveley sends in a cross.
33:41 GOAL - Billy Jones:Derby 1 - 1 Preston Billy Jones puts the ball into his own net from 6 yards. Derby 1-1 Preston.
33:11 Nicky Hunt delivers the ball, Paul Green takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
31:41 Corner taken by Michael Tonge from the right by-line.
31:30 Jon Parkin challenges Shaun Barker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Bywater.
30:11 Paul Green has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
29:41 Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons, clearance made by Billy Jones.
29:36 Kris Commons sends in a cross, clearance by Neill Collins.
29:14 Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
28:54 Kris Commons takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
28:20 Kris Commons takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Andy Lonergan.
27:01 Corner from the right by-line taken by Ross Wallace, Shot from just outside the box by Matthew James misses to the right of the target.
26:00 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Tonge, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance.
24:36 Paul Green fouled by Jon Parkin, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Green takes the direct free kick.
23:42 Corner taken by Michael Tonge from the left by-line, Header by Jake Buxton from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
23:29 Paul Green takes a shot. Blocked by Neill Collins.
20:57 James McEveley delivers the ball.
20:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Neill Collins on Rob Hulse. Paul Green restarts play with the free kick.
19:20 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Shaun Barker.
18:48 Stephen Pearson has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
17:48 Corner taken by Michael Tonge, Jon Parkin manages to make a clearance.
17:22 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons, clearance made by Neill Collins.
17:16 The ball is crossed by James McEveley, clearance made by Sean St. Ledger.
16:20 Chris Sedgwick challenges Kris Commons unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot comes in from Kris Commons from the free kick, Andy Lonergan makes a save.
15:28 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Jake Buxton takes a shot. Save made by Andy Lonergan.
15:18 The ball is sent over by James McEveley, Tom Williams makes a clearance.
11:09 A cross is delivered by James McEveley, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance.
10:19 Rob Hulse is caught offside. Andy Lonergan takes the indirect free kick.
9:03 The assist for the goal came from Tom Williams.
9:03 GOAL - Jon Parkin:Derby 0 - 1 Preston Jon Parkin grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 0-1 Preston.
8:58 Centre by Tom Williams,
7:50 James McEveley has a shot and went wide right of the post.
6:23 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Shot from close in by Michael Tonge hits the post.
6:14 Kris Commons takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.
5:17 Billy Jones challenges James McEveley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Robbie Savage from the free kick, Billy Jones gets a block in.
2:58 Jake Buxton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Welbeck. Direct free kick taken by Ross Wallace.
2:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Matthew James. Robbie Savage restarts play with the free kick.
0:40 Matthew James produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
0:20 A cross is delivered by Michael Tonge.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
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