He started his first game for 11 months in place of the suspended Fabrizio Ravanelli after a groin problem which has required a succession of operations.

But all that frustration evaporated when he curled a shot past Ian Walker.

The strike doubled Derby's advantage after Georgi Kinkladze had scored his first league goal of the campaign.

The Rams wrapped up the win in injury time when Lee Morris added a third.

Derby had to play for an hour without keeper Andy Oakes after he suffered concussion in a clash with James Scowcroft.

But for Leicester their six-year run in the top flight is now almost certainly over.

Leicester dominated the first half but struggled to find a way through a Derby defence in which Danny Higginbotham was in outstanding form.

But Malcolm Christie was always a threat even if the glory went to Kinkladze and Strupar, and he had a hand in the build-up to all three goals.

Derby had the ball in the net through Strupar but referee Mike Riley ruled that Christie had fouled Walker.

Then at the other end it was the home side's turn to have an effort ruled out when Oakes failed to hold on to a cross from Andrew Impey when under pressure from Scowcroft.

Muzzy Izzet tucked away the rebound but again Riley decided that a foul had been committed and Oakes was to pay no further part in the game and was stretchered off to be replaced by Patrick Foletti.

Kinkladze made the breakthrough when he struck after Christie had held the ball up on the edge of the area.

His low shot was on target but it took a slight deflection off Stefan Oakes as it flew past Walker into the corner of the net.

Dave Bassett almost immediately brought on Brian Deane, and he went close to equalising when his low shot was saved by the legs of Foletti.

But the Rams doubled their lead after 63 minutes through Strupar - with Christie again involved in the build-up.

He received a pass from Pierre Ducrocq and then the ball deflected into the path of Strupar, who curled a shot past Walker.

That was the end of the contest but in injury-time Christie broke clear down the right and centred for Morris to score.