DERBY County's interest in this season's FA Cup was ended by a 3-0 defeat to Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers in their fourth round tie at Pride Park.
Colin Kazim-Richards put Rovers ahead just before half-time before goals from Scott Dann and Jordan Rhodes sealed their progress into the last 16 of the competition on a frustrating afternoon for the Rams.
Derby boss Nigel Clough named an unchanged starting line-up following last weekend's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
The only change on the bench saw Conor Doyle replace Theo Robinson, who has been suffering from tonsillitis.
Blackburn boss Michael Appleton made one enforced change to his side following the midweek 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion - Josh King replacing the cup-tied Todd Kane.
The visitors went close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
Paul Coutts looked to be harshly penalised for handball and Morten Gamst Pedersen's teasing free kick from the left was glanced inches wide by the head of Dann.
Blackburn lost King to an injury three minutes later, resulting in the early introduction of Ruben Rochina.
For all Derby's crisp passing, they failed to test former Rams trainee goalkeeper Jake Kean in the opening exchanges.
Blackburn, meanwhile, continued to threaten from set pieces, Pedersen forcing Adam Legzdins into a save from a 25-yard free kick in the 26th minute.
The best the Rams could manage were a couple of efforts from Will Hughes, which were both blocked.
It looked like the sides would go into the break level until the 44th minute, when Kazim-Richards robbed Richard Keogh following a pass over the top and raced clear.
The Turkish international still had plenty to do but his fierce drive from the angle beat Legzdins, despite the keeper getting a touch on the ball.
Derby had their first shot on target in first-half stoppage time but John Brayford's volley was comfortably held by Kean.
Clough's men might have had an equaliser in the 57th minute.
Conor Sammon charged down a clearance by keeper Kean, who then missed his kick at the loose ball.
Jamie Ward won possession but Kean got back in time to save his attempt to find the net from wide on the left.
But Blackburn looked like they could add to their lead and Rochina's first-time drive was tipped around the post by Legzdins after Brayford had scuffed a clearance.
Rovers had a goal ruled out for offside but the warning signs were there and the doubled their advantage after 66 minutes.
Derby cleared a corner but Danny Murphy's chip found Dann to his left, just inside the area, and the centre-half chested the ball down before lashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
The third goal came soon after - Markus Olsson burst into the area and the ball broke kindly for Rhodes to lift it over the oncoming Legzdins.
The Rams were deflated and Rovers could have scored again - but Legzdins did well to turn another Rochina drive around the post late on.
GOALS: Kazim-Richards (44) 0-1; Dann (66) 0-2; Rhodes (71) 0-3.
DERBY COUNTY: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, O'Brien (O'Connor, 82), Roberts, Coutts, Hughes (Davies, 75), Hendrick, Bryson, Ward (Jacobs, 72), Sammon. Other subs: Fielding (gk), Freeman, Doyle, Bennett.
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Kean, Lowe, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, King (Rochina, 10), Murphy, Pedersen, Markus Olsson (Dunn, 83), Kazim-Richards, Rhodes. Other subs: Usai (gk), Givet, Fabio Nunes, Nuno Gomes, Goodwillie.
REFEREE: S Attwell (Warwickshire).
ATTENDANCE: 14,013 (1,287 away fans).
BOOKINGS: Blackburn - Hanley (45+2) foul on Bryson; Markus Olsson (60) dissent; Rochina (81) foul on Davies.
