By Sean Taylor, PA Sport
Click here for full match stats
Nigel Clough's first victory as Derby manager lifted the Rams out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone - but midlands rivals Coventry made them work hard for their 2-1 win at Pride Park.
Derby looked to be coasting after quickfire goals from Rob Hulse and Kris Commons put them firmly in control at half-time.
But Michael Doyle reduced Coventry's arrears eight minutes after the break and a much-improved display from the Sky Blues made for a nervous second half for Derby.
The Rams were impressive despite the midweek defeat to Birmingham that saw them slip into the bottom three.
And they picked up where they had left off at St Andrew's with a rampant first-half display to put Chris Coleman's side to the sword.
Clough described the performance against Birmingham as Derby's best of the season and that was reflected by the Rams boss naming an unchanged side.
Hulse was Coventry's primary tormentor as the hosts created several early chances.
His fourth-minute header from Commons' inswinging free-kick forced City keeper Kieren Westwood to palm the ball away.
From Gary Teale's resulting corner the then striker headed narrowly wide at the far post.
A minute later Hulse was at the hub of the action again when his shot from the right-hand side of the area was deflected just wide.
Elliott Ward did enough to put Hulse off when he got his head to another Teale cross after 10 minutes, but Coventry were merely delaying the inevitable.
After Martin Albrechtsen's header from Commons' corner was deflected wide for corner from the opposite side, Derby made the breakthrough in the 14th minute.
Westwood punched Teale's cross into his own defender causing the ball to loop goalwards and Hulse headed home at the far post from virtually on the goalline.
Hulse then turned provider three minutes later when he controlled Teale's low cross at the near post before setting up Commons, who steered the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.
Commons could have put the game beyond Coventry in the 19th minute when he went through one-on-one, but Westwood made a fine one-handed save to thwart the Scotland international.
An extraordinary passage of play nine minutes before the break again denied Derby a third goal.
Teale raced clear down the right-hand side of the box before striking the near post with his shot.
The rebound fell to Commons on the edge of the area and he hit a first-time shot that cannoned back off the other post.
Coventry threatened to make Derby pay for failing to put themselves out of sight when Doyle halved City's deficit after 53 minutes.
Doyle's initial prod goalwards was palmed away by Stephen Bywater but Clinton Morrison reacted quickest to the rebound and crossed low into the six yard box where the unmarked midfielder simply turned the ball home.
However, the fightback never really materialised.
Coventry had plenty of possession and looked dangerous during a sustained spell of pressure midway through the second half.
Jordan Henderson, making his City debut after signing on loan from Sunderland this week, looked the most likely to unlock the home defence.
But Derby defenders always seemed to get to his crosses ahead of his new team-mates.
When Ward did get to the ball first his header across goal was scrambled clear.
Teams
Derby Bywater, Connolly, Albrechtsen, Addison (McEveley 46),Stewart, Barazite (Sterjovski 62), Savage, Green, Teale, Hulse,Commons.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Villa, Varney.
Booked: Savage.
Goals: Hulse 14, Commons 16.
Coventry Westwood, Wright, Hall, Ward, Fox, Henderson,Beuzelin, Doyle (Sawyer 86), Bell, Morrison,Eastwood (McKenzie 46).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thornton, Wynter.
Goals: Doyle 53.
Att: 29,710
Ref: M Jones (Mansfield).
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