Curtis Davies bagged a debut goal, but the plaudits belonged to striker Tobias Mikaelsson at Villa Park.

The Young Swede fired a hat-trick as Kevin MacDonald's men came from behind to maintain the 100 per cent start to the season.

Patrik Berger added to the good news for Villa, completing a 74-minute outing on his return from a hamstring injury.

Taylor was called into action inside the first minute and comfortably gathered a Holmes cross from the Derby left.

Osbourne's low 25-yard drive was blocked by Malcolm on three.

Berger fired high into the Holte End a minute later as Earls and Stieber combined to great effect down the left.

The energetic Berger almost latched onto Stieber's through ball on ten, but keeper Price raced off his line to intercept.

Lowry did well to beat Macken to Camra's left-wing cross and clear the ball to safety on 19.

Edworthy cleared a low Stieber ball from the left moments later, with Mikaelsson waiting to pounce.

Earls was denied by Price on 23 as he raced forward beyond the halfway line and unleashed a rising 30-yard drive. Bellon cut the ball back from the follow up, but Malcolm cleared to safety.

Johnson opened the scoring for Derby on 30, firing a low shot through a crowded box as Villa failed to clear a Holmes corner from the left.

Hogg headed across the face of goal as he met an Osbourne centre on 32.

Mikaelsson levelled matters a minute later, springing the offside trap as he met a long ball from Osbourne and slotting low past Price.

Mikaelsson almost doubled his tally on 39, but was unable to make decisive contact with a superb left-wing cross from Stieber.

Berger almost marked his return with a spectacular goal on 41, but saw a dipping effort tipped over the bar by Price.

Villa did have a second on 42 though as Berger swung over a corner from the left and debutant Davies rose above a crowded box to head home.

Holmes volleyed straight at Taylor on 43 as Derby looked for an instant response.

Mikaelsson fired narrowly wide on 45 as he cut in from the right to fashion the opening.

Mikaelsson was denied by Price on 50 - the Derby keeper blocking a close-range angled shot from the young striker.

Young Swede Mikaelsson made no mistake on 56, slotting home from close range after a sweeping move that saw Hogg find Stieber down the left, with the Hungarian crossing to the far-post.

With Villa well on top, Mikaelsson had his hat-trick on 59, tapping home as Price could only parry a rising effort from Davies.

Malcolm sent a low drive straight at Taylor as Derby launched a rare attack on 64.

Taylor was little more than a spectator, but the Villa keeper did well to block a Camra effort from the left on 71.

Berger almost added a fifth for Villa on 74, but saw a left-foot drive from the edge of the box flash just past the upright.

Substitute Delfouneso played the ball across the face of the six-yard box on 78, but Beardsley cleared.

Villa's impressive left-back Earls dragged a low left-foot effort wide of the target on 87.

VILLA: Taylor, Lund, Earls, Osbourne, Lowry, Davies, Y.Bellon, Hogg, Mikaelsson, Stieber, Berger. Subs: Delfouneso (for Stieber 74), Bevan, Collins (for Mikaelsson 81), Clark, Weimann (for Berger 74).

Derby: Price, Beardsley, Edworthy, Addison, Johnson, Malcolm, Camara, Hanson, Macken, Jones, Holmes. Subs: Richards (for Hanson ht), Hinchliffe, Amory, Dudley, Ujcik (for Jones 60).