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Rob Hulse struck an emphatic brace to help under-pressure Derby come from behind to beat 10-man Coventry 2-1 in the Championship at Pride Park.

Derby fell behind inside four minutes after Leon Best capitalised on a Stephen Bywater error, but Hulse struck twice in 12 second-half minutes to turn the game on its head before missing a late penalty as he sought to clinch a hat-trick.

Teenage full-back Jordan Clarke saw red for two reckless challenges as Coventry collapsed, although the dismissal was surrounded in controversy after Robbie Savage appeared to exaggerate his fall to prompt the second booking.

Hulse will grab the headlines in the morning papers but his strike partner Paul Dickov had an equally important night, missing two golden opportunities before supplying both Derby goals to lift the Rams five points clear of the drop zone.

Ahead of kick-off both managers were able to include some welcome faces from the treatment table, with Dean Leacock, Paul Green and Hulse all significant selections for Nigel Clough, while Aron Gunnarsson and Best joined loan signing Leon Barnett on Chris Coleman's team sheet. Best would prove significant in the first half.

After three consecutive losses Derby needed a shot of confidence at Pride Park, yet just four minutes in they were dealt the exact opposite.

Home goalkeeper Bywater contributed greatly to the goal, punching weakly at Best's initial header to allow the striker to pick his spot and stab a volley into the far corner.

The utter silence that greeted the goal suggested Derby's fans expected an onslaught to follow; but Clough's men responded well.

Twice in as many minutes the Rams shaved a post, first through Leacock then Hulse - both strikes destined for the bottom corner before timely deflections.

Derby were finding plenty of joy through Gary Teale down the left and racked up several corners. Five minutes later their entire bench rose as one screaming 'penalty' after Eliott Ward scythed down Shaun Barker - nothing given.

Injury stoppages to Gunnarsson and Leacock then disrupted the game's momentum, and it took Derby until the stroke of the interval to create another chance - but what a chance.

Stephen Pearson was the man to stroll into the Coventry box and when he squared for Dickov, an expectant Pride Park was stunned to see the experienced hit-man smash the ball over an open goal.

Clough needed to fire up his team and his half-time words did the trick four minutes into the second half.

Top scorer Hulse was the man to respond, collecting Dickov's near-post cross in acres of room, giving him time to chest down and finish from six yards for 1-1.

Dickov was having an inconsistent game: after the sitter in the first half then following assist, he once again frustrated the home crowd by failing to gamble on Teale's wonderful far-post cross.

Hulse was on fire though, and just after the hour he turned the game on its head, rifling home his second of the night after Dickov again turned provider.

Coleman could barely believe his eyes at the way his team had switched off since the interval, and things would get worse for the City boss as 17-year-old right back Clarke saw red for his second rash challenge of the match.

The full-back can have no complaints with the decision, but his case was not helped by the writhing antics of Savage, who leapt to his feet as soon as the red card had come out of the referee's pocket.

Derby now had the game in their hands; Hulse had the chance to apply to the final touch when Chris Hussey was adjudged to have fouled Lee Croft, but his tame penalty was saved by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos as Clough endured a nervy final 15 minutes before claiming victory.

Ben Blackmore / Eurosport