Rams loot Royal box

DETERMINED Derby County showed superb spirit to come from behind and beat Reading at Pride Park thanks to goals from Paul Green and Rob Hulse.

The Rams — who had lacked a threat going forward in the first half — went behind to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike shortly after the break.

But the goal stirred Nigel Clough’s men and they hit back within five minutes with Green bagging his second of the season from close range.

Hulse then scored a similar goal to seal the points for Derby.

Royals substitute Shane Long was later sent off for a terrible tackle on Freddie Stoor as the Rams clung on under some intense pressure from the visitors, who never looked out of the game despite being a shadow of the side they were a year ago.

The result lifts Derby up to 16th in the table and cements their home record as the fourth best in the division.

All that remains is to start picking up points away from Pride Park and the Rams will start to climb the table more rapidly.

Saturday’s win was also much needed following a dire display against Swansea City eight days previously, where Derby sank without troubling the home goalkeeper.

And after a poor first half where visiting keeper Adam Federici was not overly tested, it looked ominous for Derby.

But the Rams stuck to their task — even after going behind for the second home game in a row — and eventually got their reward.

Clough made three changes following the defeat in South Wales. Paul Dickov returned up front alongside Hulse and Stephen Pearson was restored to the starting line-up after recovering from a groin strain. Jake Livermore dropped to the bench while Bryan Hughes had returned to Hull City after his loan spell.

The final change saw Dean Moxey replaced at left-back by Jay McEveley after suffering a dip in form.

New loan signing DJ Campbell was on the bench.

Reading, meanwhile, featured ex-Ram Grzegorz Rasiak on the bench.

Jobi McAnuff fired just past Stephen Bywater’s near post from 20 yards on four minutes after he had ghosted past Stoor — with his shot leaving the Rams stopper stationary.

Derby had their first effort at goal five minutes later as Hulse headed Gary Teale’s cross firmly downward from eight yards but straight at Federici.

The match was stopped for five minutes as Brian Howard was treated following a clash of heads with Barker. The Royals midfielder walked back to the dressing room, clearly dazed — it was later revealed he had broken his jaw.

A minute after the game was restarted, Teale cut in from the left and stung Federici’s fingertips with a fine 25-yard drive at the top corner.

Jimmy Kebe, looking dangerous, blazed over from a promising position on the edge of the box on 29 minutes after McEveley had allowed him far too much time and space to get onto Simon Church’s neat ball.

Bywater did well to save at Church’s feet as the striker dived in to reach Sigurdsson’s cross as the Rams were again cut apart down their left flank.

Dickov tested Federici again on 36 minutes, with the American keeper pushing his 25- yarder round the post.

Reading opened the scoring with their first shot on target 11 minutes into the second half.

Shaun Barker’s poor pass out from the back left Teale short and Jay Tabb surged through and into the box.

The ball broke to Sigurdsson and he finished low into the net off Bywater’s left post from 10 yards, giving the keeper no chance.

But the Royals’ lead lasted just four minutes as Green popped up with an equaliser. Dickov, who was at the heart of Derby’s best moves, hit a superb reverse pass to play in Teale and, with time to pick his ball, he crossed perfectly for Green to stab home from a yard in a crowded box.

Green had a golden chance to give Derby the lead on 66 minutes but he shot tamely wide from 12 yards after more excellent work from Dickov to hassle Ivar Ingimarsson and get a cross in. Green went for placement rather than power but rolled his shot a yard wide.

Hulse, though, made no mistake on 73 minutes with an excellently crafted goal.

Teale, with his back to goal, intelligently backheeled the ball through to McEveley, taking out Tabb and Jem Karacan.

The Rams’ left-back hit a perfect cross for Hulse to escape the attentions of Ingimarsson and belt home from close range.

Seconds later McEveley was in action at the other end, denying Kebe a shooting opportunity with an excellent recovery.

Long then saw red for his disgraceful lunge at Stoor which went in over the Swede’s ankle.

It was a nasty tackle born of frustration after the young Irish striker was denied a foul when he was clearly impeded by Barker.

Stoor took no further part as went off injured with a heavy knock.

Bywater then pulled off a cracking save from McAnuff as he surged past Livermore and shot from 15 yards.

Alex Pearce then forced the stopper to fist away a piledriver five minutes into stoppage time as Derby came under extreme pressure from the 10 men.

But they held on to record their sixth home win and leave the Royals looking anxiously over their shoulders.

DERBY have been drawn away to either Staines Town or Millwall in the third round of the FA Cup.

Non-league Staines Town drew with Milwall on Saturday to keep their dream alive.

Ties will be played on January 2 and 3.