Derby County produced a spirited comeback to goal from a goal down to defeat Championship rivals Reading 2-1 at Pride Park Stadium this afternoon.
The Rams bounced back within four minutes of trailing to Gylfi Sigurdsson's goal early in the second half when Paul Green side-footed home his second goal of the campaign.
The midfielder went close to giving Derby the lead soon afterwards but his shot was just off target, however Rob Hulse struck the decisive goal late on to give the Rams the points.
Reading's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of second-half substitute Shane Long late on for a lunge on Fredrik Stoor.
Manager Nigel Clough made three changes to his starting line-up as Derby looked to keep their impressive run of form at Pride Park Stadium going.
In came Jay McEveley for Dean Moxey at left-back, Stephen Pearson shook off a groin problem to replaced Bryan Hughes who returned to Hull City after his month-long loan spell earlier in the week while Paul Dickov replaced Jake Livermore as Clough opted for a two-man attack.
Reading created the first opportunity of the game on four minutes when Jobi McAnuff cut inside from the left and fired a right-foot effort towards goal that flashed just wide of Bywater's near-post, although the shot-stopper seemed to have it covered.
The game started at a really high tempo with both sides chasing the early advantage, and Reading goalkeeper Federici was twice called into action to clear his lines under pressure from Dickov.
Reading were forced into an early change when key midfielder Brian Howard went down in his own area during a Rams attack and he was replaced by Jem Karacan in midfield. It was later revealed Howard had suffered a bang to the head and was replaced with concussion.
Derby had their first effort on goal on 21 minutes, and Federici did well to turn over Gary Teale's thunderous drive from all of 25 yards.
In a open game both sides were showing their intent to attack and Dickov was agonisingly close to opening the scoring with a neat turn and shot from twenty yards but Federici got a slight touch to nudge the ball behind for a corner.
The sides went in locked at 0-0 at the break and Derby got the second half underway unchanged, but the game took a good few minutes to build up some momentum after the fast-paced first period.
Reading broke the deadlock with the first effort of the second half as Jay Tabb's purposeful burst forwards from right-back fed Sigurdsson who made no mistake from just inside the area with a powerful low drive in off the post with Bywater given no chance at all.
Derby rallied and chased a quick response and within a few minutes they were back on level terms.
Dickov's excellent ball down the left picked out Teale did well to find a pocket of space inside the box and deliver an inch-perfect cross into the path of Paul Green - making a late run into the box - and he easily side-footed the ball into the gaping goal from a few yards out for his second of the campaign.
Green could have added to his tally moments later but after good work by Dickov the midfielder, 14 yards out, dragged his shot wide. Hulse then tried his luck with a turn and shot with twenty to go, but Federici saved easily.
But Federici was given no chance as Hulse put Derby ahead with just over 15 minutes remaining through another excellent passage of football. Teale back-helled the ball to McEveley who delivered the most inviting of crosses with his left foot into the six-yard box and Hulse simply guided the ball past Federici for his 6th goal of the season.
Reading were reduced to ten men with ten minutes to go when sub Shane Long lunged in on Fredrik Stoor, leaving Referee Mr Haines with no option but to issue a red card. Stoor had to be replaced as a result by Jake Livermore and Moxey followed soon afterwards for the hardworking Green.
Reading mounted late pressure and Stephen Bywater had to be called into action twice to keep Derby's lead intact, denying McAnuff and Pearce with excellent saves which were just as vital as Hulse's matchwinner.
Despite that late pressure Derby held firm, and took the points to secure another home victory.
The Rams are back at Pride Park next weekend with West Bromwich Albion coming to town.
Derby County: Bywater, Stoor (Livermore 82), Barker, Leacock, McEveley, Green (Moxey 87), Savage, Pearson, Teale, Dickov (Addison 77) Hulse
Booked: Hulse
Goals: Green (60), Hulse (73)
Reading: Federici, Tabb, Matejovsky, McAnuff, Kebe, Ingarmarsson, Church (Long 46), Bertrand, Sigurdsson (Rasiak 65), Pearce, Howard (Karacan 21)
Subs Not Used: Hamer, Cisse, Robson-Kanu, O'Dea
Booked: Matejovsky, Pearce
Sent Off: Long
Goals: Sigurdsson (56)
Referee: Mr A Haines
Attendance: 30,174
Derby County Man of the Match, powered by Collstream: Shaun Barker
