Derby 2-1 Coventry

By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Pride Park

Rob Hulse scored twice as Derby came from behind to beat Coventry in a feisty Championship match that ended a run of three straight defeats for the Rams.

Derby started the game in 20th place and it looked as though manager Nigel Clough could be in for another torrid evening after Leon Best put Coventry ahead with a well-taken finish from 14 yards.

Paul Dickov missed a glorious chance to equalise just before the break but shortly after the restart his cross was converted by Hulse.

The Rams took the lead when Hulse, who has just returned after a stomach bug, finished a sweeping move before Coventry's Jordan Clarke saw red after picking up a second booking.

Hulse should have completed his hat-trick but he had a late penalty saved by Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Derby had lost eight of their last 11 games as Clough struggled to deal with a horrendous injury list.

But in addition to Hulse, the Rams boss was also able to welcome back Dean Leacock and Paul Green - and his team were good value for their win after an improved second-half performance.

Coventry, also battling against a lengthy injury list, scored with the first meaningful attack of the match - and it was a goal that, in part at least, was the product of awful defending.

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Freddy Eastwood, playing on the right of a front three, was given far too much time to pick out Best, who headed tamely towards goal. Rams keeper Bywater made a hash of his clearance, punching the ball back towards the unmarked Best, who controlled it with his chest before slotting home on the half-volley.

The home team responded with a phase of attacking football that perhaps should have yielded an equaliser.

Leacock, who impressed bringing the ball out of defence, and Hulse both saw shots deflected wide, while Elliot Ward appeared to foul Shaun Barker but Derby's penalty appeals were turned down.

The Rams had won five corners in quick succession but Coventry held firm and the two struggling teams largely cancelled each other out until the final minutes of the half.

The Sky Blues, who are now winless in six games, almost extended their lead in injury-time when a raking Eastwood pass from the left sent Best through on goal but Dean Moxey made a sensational last-ditch covering challenge when any sort of foul would have resulted in a red card.

Within seconds Derby should have been level after Stephen Pearson ended a mazy run into the Coventry penalty box with a square ball towards Dickov but the striker inexplicably drilled his shot over from six yards.

The feisty Scottish striker partially atoned for his miss when he delivered a superb cross into the Coventry box that Hulse controlled before placing beyond Konstantopoulos.

Teale was an increasingly influential figure on the left for Derby and he ran inside the Sky Blues box after 59 minutes, but his cross-cum-shot across goal found neither the net nor a team-mate.

Derby's pressure eventually told and their winner came after a superb counter-attack involving Teale, Pearson and Dickov, who pulled the ball back for Hulse to put the Rams in front.

Minutes later the home team had a numerical advantage as well after Clarke picked up his second yellow following a sliding challenge on Savage.

The Rams combative midfielder had previously been involved in several scuffles and numerous Coventry players surrounded Savage after Clarke was dismissed, while Sky Blues skipper Clinton Morrison protested in vain to the referee.

Hulse should have sealed victory from the penalty spot after Chris Hussey was adjudged to have brought down Lee Croft but Konstantopoulos dived low to his left and made an excellent save.

Derby manager Nigel Clough:
"(Hulse) went down the Thursday before the Ipswich game and was laid low for about four days, but he's trained most of this week and he looked pretty strong.

"They were two very good goals. We haven't given him too much service in the last few weeks when he has played, but tonight we did and he looked dangerous all night - as did Paul Dickov, who I'm sure Rob was first to thank for his goals."

"He changed his mind over the penalty as usually he goes the other way. It's not so bad when you miss them and they don't cost you points but he's disappointed because it would have been for a hat-trick."

Coventry manager Chris Coleman:
"As for the red card, both players went in. Jordan is already on a yellow card but he's a full-blooded player and a tough defender - he's not a dirty player - and he was never going to pull out of that challenge.

"I'm not going to say I will need to see it again, but what I will say is that we had one referee in the first half and another in the second half.

"Derby are at home and their supporters got excited about the challenge, when that happened I knew there was only going to be one outcome."

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