A Rob Hulse double ended a run of three defeats for Derby County, who fought back to pile more frustration on Coventry City.The Sky Blues had not won in five games but Leon Best's seventh goal of the season gave them an early lead only for Hulse to make it Derby's night with two excellent second-half strikes.
Coventry came into the match on the back of only two victories in 13 games but they were ahead in the fourth minute when Best punished a poor punch by Stephen Bywater.
Bywater could only send a Best header back to the striker, who drove the ball on the half-volley into the bottom right corner from 12 yards.
Derby responded with Dean Leacock and Hulse both going close before Shaun Barker appeared to be taken out by Elliott Ward just outside the six-yard box.
There was no shortage of effort from Derby but the quality was missing until Stephen Pearson surged into the box in injury time and set up Paul Dickov, who blazed over from six yards.
It was an astonishing miss but Dickov made amends four minutes into the second half when he set up Hulse for the equaliser.
The Scot played a superb ball in from the left and Hulse chested it down and turned it in from 10 yards under pressure from Ward.
Coventry were rattled by the goal and Gary Teale almost scored with a low cross shot before Derby's strikers combined again in the 62nd minute.
Pearson got away down the left and his cross was played back in by Dickov for Hulse to sweep a first time shot into the bottom right corner from 12 yards for his fifth of the campaign.
The visitors suffered another blow two minutes later when Jordan Clarke, who had been booked for a first-half foul, caught Robbie Savage late and was shown a second yellow card by referee Phil Crossley.
Hulse had the chance to celebrate a hat-trick eight minutes from time when Teale crossed and Lee Croft was bundled over by Chris Hussey who was booked.
But Hulse's spot-kick was too close to Dimi Konstantopoulos, who dived to his left to turn the ball away.
The home fans had to endure an anxious five minutes of stoppage time but Coventry could not find a way back as Derby held on for a much needed three points.