Rob Hulse marked his return to Derby's starting line-up by scoring twice as Coventry suffered a 2-1 defeat at Pride Park.

The big striker, who missed last weekend's defeat at Ipswich through illness, struck twice after the break to usurp the first-half lead given to the Sky Blues by Leon Best.

Hulse could have had a hat-trick but his late penalty was well saved by Dimi Konstantopoulos. Coventry finished the game with 10 men after Jordan Clarke was sent off just after the hour mark.

The visitors took the lead in the fourth minute. Freddy Eastwood's left-wing cross was headed goalwards by Best. With players in front of him, Rams keeper Stephen Bywater opted to punch the ball but his clearance went straight back to Best who fired a volley into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Derby were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Shaun Barker was upended in the box by Elliott Ward, but the Rams did level in the 49th minute as Hulse chested down Paul Dickov's cross before prodding a superb finish past Konstantopoulos with the outside of his right boot.

Dickov then retrieved Pearson's cross to tee up his strike partner for a crisp first-time finish after 62 minutes, before Clarke saw red for a second yellow card and Hulse wasted a glorious chance to record his hat-trick from the spot.