Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Pride Park Stadium

Four goals after the break sent Derby to a 5-0 reverse against the Hammers - their worst defeat at home since Sunderland won by the same scoreline in September 1999.

Lee Bowyer's goal shortly before the interval was all that separated the two teams after a tight first 45 minutes.

But by the hour the visitors had cemented their advantage as Matthew Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Nolberto Solano all netted.

Bowyer wrapped up the scoring from close range to leave Derby stuck at the bottom of the table with the international break looming.

Marc Edworthy was a surprise name on the team sheet for his first appearance of the season - and his first start since the end of April - as the Rams were struck by a late injury blow.

Dean Leacock was forced out and with Claude Davis and Andy Todd also absent, in came Edworthy to line up alongside Darren Moore at centre-half.

There were also recalls to the starting XI for Gary Teale, Eddie Lewis and Tyrone Mears, while Kenny Miller returned after his hamstring problems.

The game's opening opportunity arrived on five minuteas as Jonathan Spector - a full-back playing in midfield - was sent scampering through the centre.

But the American never looked comfortable with the ball at his feet and he was eventually snuffed out by Edworthy, with Matthew Etherington crying out for the ball to be laid left.

Despite that, another packed Pride Park crowd was roaring with Derby soon back on the front foot but Stephen Pearson couldn't quite stretch enough to reach Matt Oakley's chipped pass.

Derby looked to be in on 11 minutes as they broke quickly through Giles Barnes, with Pearson once again ready to receive the ball, though the teenager's pass wasn't accurate enough to send the Scot through.

And the visitors were forced into an early change as George McCartney - twice troubled by injury in the first 13 minutes - was replaced by John Pantsil.

They had two chances on 19 minutes, both through the pace of Luis Boa Morte.

Firstly he broke away from Edworthy, though Moore got back to block, and Stephen Bywater's feet denied Carlton Cole as the ball rolled out from the initial effort.

Oakley was first into referee Mark Clattenburg's notebook after a late lunge on Etherington that left the winger needing treatment, then Pantsil followed suit for a similarly after-the-ball-had-gone tackle on Andy Griffin.

There was controversy on 29 minutes as Griffin was adjudged to have handled right on the edge of the box while in the act of sliding in to prevent Boa Morte from releasing Cole.

It gave the Hammers a free-kick almost dead-central that Nolberto Solano curled beautifully over the wall but down off the crossbar and to safety.

Bowyer was next to be cautioned for a cynical late hack at Barnes as the teenager was breaking through the middle of midfield on 34.

It gave Lewis the chance to chip a free-kick into the box but Robert Green claimed without any difficulties.

And the opening goal of the game arrived four minutes before half-time - though at the wrong end of Pride Park, from the Rams' perspective.

Cole nodded a long ball down into the path of Bowyer, rushing on into the box, and though appeals went up for handball the former Leeds man didn't stop to find out before firing his shot past the exposed Bywater.

And somehow the Hammers failed to double their lead just seconds after half-time.

Cole got to a long pass before Moore and pulled the ball back low across goal, where Boa Morte was steaming in and saw his close-range shot saved by Bywater.

The ball was scrambled out for a corner from which Matthew Upson smashed a half-volley against the crossbar.

Derby almost made them pay on 49 as Lewis picked up a Teale cross and pulled the ball back to the far post where Kenny Miller rose, only to see his header drop past the opposite upright.

But seconds later the boot was on the other foot and the Hammers were far more clinical.

Solano dinked a ball through that Etherington picked up on the edge of the box before exchanging neat passes with Bowyer and lining up a left-footed effort that gave Bywater no chance.

Derby immediately called for Steve Howard, in place of Teale, with Barnes moving out to the right.

But on 53 the visitors' advantage was trebled from a corner that Derby failed to defend.

The ball eventually came out to Spector, whose shot was blocked on the line but unfortunately dragged over the line by Lewis.

Mears was close to pulling one back against his former club with a thunderous effort from just outside the penalty area as Derby looked for a quick response.

Whoever the goal would eventually be credited to, it was Lewis's last action as his place was taken by Robert Earnshaw two minutes before the hour-mark.

But within seconds it was four.

Solano was given too much time in midfield to pick out Cole on the right, and his delicious low cross was met by the un-marked Bowyer who smashed it into the back of the net from close range.

The fifth arrived on 68 minutes as Solano this time turned scorer with a stunning free-kick into the far top-corner from the left-corner of the penalty box.

It was the first time Derby had conceded five at home in a league game since September 1999 when Sunderland left Pride Park with a 5-0 victory thanks to a Kevin Phillips hat-trick.

Substitute Craig Fagan almost netted after a mazy run down the right but Pride Park had a rather shell-shocked atmosphere for the final stages.

In fairness the vast majority of the home faithful still kept up with the singing and chanting that they have become familiar for this season, regardless of the result.

Earnshaw and Oakley both took aim from distance but neither could threaten Green, who had been untroubled all afternoon.

Fagan saw yellow for a couple of late challenges borne more out of frustration at the afternoon's scoreline than anything else.

It was not how Derby wanted to go into the international break.

DERBY: Bywater, Mears, Edworthy, Moore, Griffin, Teale (Howard 51), Oakley (C), Pearson, Lewis (Earnshaw 58), Barnes, Miller (Fagan 75).

SUBS: McEveley, Jones.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill (C), Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney (Pantsil 13), Bowyer (Collins 71), Spector, Solano, Boa Morte, Cole, Etherington.

SUBS: Wright (GK), Ljungberg, Camara.

ATTENDANCE: 32,440 (3,109).