Tobias Mikaelsson stole the glory despite the fact that Patrik Berger returned from injury and Curtis Davies scored on his first appearance in a Villa shirt.
Young Swedish striker Mikaelsson notched a fine hat-trick, which earned Villa their third victory in as many matches, and troubled the Derby defence throughout.
Youth was to the fore, with full-back Danny Earls, central midfielder Jonathan Hogg and left-sided player Zoltan Stieber all putting in impressive displays against the experienced Rams.
But Martin O’Neill must have been delighted at the progress of Berger and Davies, who combined for one of the goals and generally impressed.
It wasn’t a great start at Villa Park, with the action sparse until Earls’ 18 yard shot tested ‘keeper Lewis Price in the 23rd minute.
But that was the boost the match needed and Derby went ahead on the half-hour.
Lee Holmes sent over a left-wing corner that Villa only half-cleared and ex-Birmingham defender Michael Johnson fired past Stuart Taylor.
Kevin MacDonald’s men responded well three minutes later, although they were helped by a Derby defence that stood waiting for offside as Mikaelsson latched onto Isaiah Osbourne’s pass.
Mikaelsson was in no mood for hanging around, though, and scored with a shot that Price just got a hand to.
Berger, having had a free-kick tipped over by Price, then sent over a superb corner and Davies obliged with a towering header to put Villa in front.
Derby were hard pressed to keep Villa at bay in the second half and there was nothing they could do in the 56th and 59th minutes as Mikaelsson completed his hat-trick.
Villa (4-4-1-1): Taylor; Lund, Davies, Lowry, Earls; Y Bellon, Osbourne, Hogg, Stieber (Weimann 74); Berger (Delfouneso 74), Mikaelsson (Collins 82). Subs not used: Bevan (GK), Clark.
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