Derby County's impressive unbeaten run of form ended with a 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea City this afternoon.

Shefi Kuqi scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half, although it could have been a different story had Michael Tonge's late free-kick not crashed back off the underside of the crossbar.

Both sides had players dismissed in the second half, Jay McEveley for Derby for two bookings while Swansea sub Gorka Pintado saw red only four minutes after coming off the bench for a lunge on Robbie Savage.

The Rams' starting line-up was unchanged for the fifth game running, with Stephen Pearson overcoming a knock to the ribs to start.

New loan recruit Gilles Sunu was named amongst the substitutes 24 hours after signing on loan until the season's conclusion from Premier League Arsenal.

Chasing a fourth straight home win in the league Derby got the game underway.

Derby settled well and some great football involving Commons and Green unlocked the Swansea defence to create a chance for Hulse inside the area but De Vries made a fine stop to keep the in-form striker out.

Nigel Clough has called on his side to take the game to Swansea in the early stages, as they had in previous games against opposition at Pride Park, and the Rams did just that with a strong first twenty minutes.

Derby suffered an early blow at the midway point of the half when Commons was forced off with a hamstring strain, which meant an earlier than expected debut for Arsenal loanee Gilles Sunu who arrived on loan from the Gunners late yesterday afternoon.

Chances were at a premium for both sides, with Derby restricted to long-range efforts from Hunt and McEveley which failed to test de Vries in the Swansea goal.

Tonge snatched at a volley a few minutes before the interval from Pearson's cross, leaving the goalkeeper to easily claim the ball.

The second period started slowly and Green was first to test de Vries on the hour with a stinging effort from long range which the Dutchman was equal to.

Derby's task of claiming a positive result was made all the more difficult with twenty-five minutes to go when McEveley was harshly dismissed for a second bookable offence after being adjudged to have intentionally brought down Dyer.

Worse was to follow for the Rams, as from the resulting free-kick the visitors took the lead.

Rangel whipped the free-kick towards the six-yard box, and Kuqi managed to get the deftest of touches on the ball to guide the ball beyond Bywater and into the net.

Derby were quickly on the attack for an equaliser and Savage let fly with a volley which whistled just over.

Tempers blew up with twenty minutes left when a lunge from Swansea sub Pintado on Savage resulted in a red card for the player who had only been on the field a matter of minutes.

A mass brawl followed involving a large number of the players from both sides, but no further action was taken.

Play resumed with Derby still chasing their equaliser their hard work and determination deserved.

Swansea were happy to run the clock down during the final ten minutes and hold onto their lead.

Derby threw caution to the wind and introduced Porter in place of the hardworking Sunu with five minutes left.

And the Rams' persitance almost paid off, but with two minutes left Tonge's curling free-kick from twenty-five yards crashed back off the bar with de Vries totally beaten and Barker blasted the rebound over.

Six minutes of time were added by the officials, but despite giving it their all Derby couldn't find the equaliser.